BMWM and SWM in COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges, trends and troubleshooting: Local, national and International Scenario

Abstract

India implemented Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) rules first in 1998 and then a more
comprehensive legislation- BMWM rules, 2016 and their amendments in 2018 and 2019 from MoEF & CC.
COVID19 was declared as a pandemic in March 2020. COVID-19 pandemic and it’s consequent biomedical
waste due to increase use of PPE is an unprecedented challenge. GoI responded with stringent guidelines
from central pollution control board (CPCB) under MoEF & CC. CPCB brought out specific guidelines for
handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment, diagnosis, quarantine of COVID-19
patients on 18 March 2020. These guidelines were revised four times in 2020 (Revision1,2,3,4). These
guidelines for management of waste generated during diagnostics and treatment of COVID-19 suspected
or confirmed patients, are required to be followed by all stakeholders in the hospital doctors, nurses,
technicians, sanitation staff in addition to existing practices under BMWM Rules, 2016 as amended. The
most recent Immunization waste guidelines, from CPCB was released in Feb 2021.
Implementation of the new CPCB guidelines in the hospital and handholding for other institutes was done.
The BMWM data vis-à-vis amount of BMW generated in kg, during pre-COVID year 2019, during COVID years
2020 (first wave) and 2021 (second wave) were compared of VMMC & SJH with other hospitals in the state
and country. Also, the data for health-check-up vaccination, trainings, inspections was analysed. Also, the
challenges encountered during 2020 and 2021 and their respective trouble shootings with the stakeholders
was done. Some innovations like the BMWM APP to monitor and strengthen the BMWM segregation practices
was introduced. Knowledge sharing was done across states, few countries and international HCWM forums.