Wastes Management Assessment at Public-Teaching and Private Hospitals Affiliated to Teheran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Hospital solid wastes are one of the environmental threats for health because of high contents of hazardous, toxics, and pathogen materials. Neglecting to safe and proper management of hospital solid wastes could lead to local and regional outbreaks and epidemics, which has high costs in addition to threat the public and environmental health. This survey aimed to study the solid wastes management in teaching and private hospitals in 2006.

This cross-sectional study conducted in 159 randomly selected wards in 6 teaching hospitals and 3 private hospitals. Data were collected by observation and completing a 72 questions questionnaire.

In private hospitals wards with wastes segregation (67%), collection (39%), temporary storage (15/7%) and transportation to temporary storage, and final disposal site (27/5%) were better than those in teaching hospitals (13%, 35%, 7/3% and 2/11% respectively).

Wastes management in private hospitals is more desirable, because of more funds and manager's liberty, authority and flexibility to make better image for hospitals through delivering high quality services.