Healthcare risk waste in Saudi Arabia. Rate of generation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the amount of healthcare risk waste generated by health establishments in Saudi Arabia


METHODS
A healthcare waste management questionnaire was applied in 27 hospitals, and 16 primary health centres and clinics. The total quantity of healthcare risk waste collected in 24 hours in each of these establishments was weighed. Calculations were carried out to get hospitals rate of healthcare risk waste generation and primary healthcare centres risk waste generation. The total national estimate of healthcare risk waste production in kilograms/year for the whole health establishments in the Kingdom was then calculated.


RESULTS
The mean hospital healthcare risk waste rate of generation was 1.13+/-0.96 kg/bed/day. The mean primary healthcare centres and clinics healthcare risk waste rate of generation was 0.08+/-0.08 kg/visitor/day. The estimated mean amount of all healthcare risk waste generated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 25,207 tons/year.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare establishments in Saudi Arabia produce healthcare risk waste. Much care is given by the responsible authorities for the management of that type of waste. A program is being established to formulate standards for healthcare waste management
Al-Zahrani
M A
MA
Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health, PO Box 2903, Riyadh 11461, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Fakhri
Z I
ZI
Al-Shanshouri
M A
MA
Al-Ayed
M H
MH
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006302:Health Services Research; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal