The Issues Affecting the Correct Practice of Healthcare Waste Management in Lae’s Angau Memorial General Hospital

Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM) is a vital issue not only to hospitals, but also to the environment, law enforcement agency, and the general public. It is one of the biggest challenges of the present day times since it has a direct impact on the health of the citizens, animals and the environment. Since it is hazardous in nature, its safe and proper disposal is extremely important. In the past, healthcare waste was often mixed with municipal solid waste and disposed of in residential waste landfills or improper treatment facilities (e.g. inadequately controlled incinerators). In recent years, many efforts have been made by environmental regulatory agencies to better manage the waste from healthcare facilities. This situation requires an organized system of healthcare waste management to curb public health risks as well as occupational hazards among healthcare workers as a result of poor in waste management. This paper presents an overview of the current management practices of healthcare waste in Angau Memorial General Hospital (AMGH) in Lae city, Morobe, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Data were collected via surveys, interviews, and on-site observations. Information regarding generation, segregation, transportation, and disposal of healthcare wastes is provided and discussed. The study showed that the hospital does not have a proper policy and plan in place for managing medical waste as well as an inadequate practice of handling healthcare waste from generation to disposal.