Burden and Scenario of Biomedical Waste Management in India

The generation of biomedical waste (BMW) is indispensable in the current era where there are so many diseases and so many health-care facilities and activities on continuous front. However, the safe management of BMW remains not only a social but also a legal obligation and responsibility of all health-care workers and any person associated with health-care activities. The recent 2016 BMW Management Rules have been clearly outlined all over the world, and India too accepts them, and the government has been very upfront for its application. India has observed a double reporting, generation, and treatment of BMW and its management after the application of BMW 2016. These new rules have been able to better segregate, transport, and dispose of the BMW leading to lesser environmental pollution. However, still many states are far away from reaching the goals and adequate implementation of BMW practices, where they may lack on various fronts such as financial support, technical support, knowledge, attitude, infrastructure, dedicated health-care workers, and monitoring by the regulatory bodies. This review article takes into fronts all aspects related to BMW management from its definition till the disposal and various knowledge and practices that are being implemented in India.