CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES OF HEALTHCARE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIA

Background: In providing healthcare services, hospitals and other healthcare facilities generate medical wastes which can spread blood-borne diseases and other waste diseases if they do not manage their medical wastes safely. Material and Method: Information presented in this paper is part of a survey of Environmental Health Directorate regarding hospital sanitation using a structured questionnaire mailed to 100 general hospitals in 2004. There were 76 hospitals participated in the survey by filling in the questionnaires and sending them back to the Environmental Health Directorate. Study variables include availability of sanitation unit responsible for Health Care Waste Management (HCWM), HCWM plans, HCWM guidelines, waste segregation practices, and HCWM technologies used. Result: Majority of hospitals had sanitation units; however, only about 30% hospitals had HCWM plans. Moreover, only about 33% hospitals segregated their wastes into three categories as recommended by HCWM guidelines, although more than 60% hospitals owned HCWM guidelines according to Health Ministerial Decree No. 1204/2004. Incineration is a preferred means of medical waste treatment technology. Conclusion: There were many surveyed hospitals did not comply with Ministerial Health Decree No. 1204/2004 in terms of safe HCWM as mandated by Government Regulations No. 18 and 85/1999 concerning Hazardous Waste Management, including HCWM.