Implementation of the Integrated Medical Waste Management (IMPACT) project has commenced at six government hospitals in Bangladesh to ensure safe and environment-friendly medical waste management.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The progress and future plans of the project were highlighted during a workshop titled “Consultative Workshop on the Integrated Medical Waste Management Programme (IMPACT)” held at a hotel in the capital on Thursday.
According to relevant officials, medical waste management infrastructure will be developed at the six selected government hospitals under this initiative.
The facilities will include systems for waste collection and segregation, microwave and autoclave technology for disinfecting infectious waste, high-temperature incinerators, and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) for treating liquid medical waste.
Officials further noted that infrastructure and technological capacity will be determined individually for each hospital, taking into account their waste production levels and future requirements.
The preliminary assessment of the project has already been completed, and hospital-specific designs are currently being drafted.
It was disclosed at the workshop that medical waste management is presently a major public health and environmental challenge in the country. Unplanned disposal or burning of medical waste is creating risks of environmental pollution, the spread of infections, and waterborne diseases.
Under the new system, medical waste will be processed directly at the hospitals. Stakeholders hope that this will allow for the destruction of infectious elements and the safe discharge of liquid waste after proper treatment.
This project is entirely grant-based, with funding provided by the Government of Japan and the global pharmaceutical firm Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. The company is providing financial assistance as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund.
The target for completing infrastructure construction, technology installation, training, and capacity-building activities has been set between 2026 and 2029. Following the implementation phase, maintenance and technical support will be provided for a specified period.
Officials stated that the successful implementation of this project will create a modern model for hospital-based medical waste management, which could be expanded to other hospitals across the country in the future.
