The Tamil Nadu government will soon implement a comprehensive statewide Health Care Waste Management Programme (HCWMP), which will provide the basic framework for the development and implementation of biomedical waste management in the state.

Informed sources told Pharmabiz.com that the government was in the process of appointing a consultant to prepare a draft policy and feasibility study, and has invited tenders for technical and financial proposals for short-term consultancy services.

As part of the action plan, the state government plans to prepare a draft HCWMP, defining the overall contextual framework for healthcare waste management in the state. The policy will consider national and state-level legislations, steps and process for development of facility specific HCWM plans and roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, capacity building, timetable for implementation, estimated project cost and sources of funds to implement the HCWMP.

Further, it will explore collaboration with private institutions that have established effective medical waste management systems in the state like Sundaram Medical Foundations, Madras Medical Mission, Lister Laboratory, Jeevan Blood Bank and Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital. The Government plans to replicate it in a state level, if a pilot study works successfully.

The consultant will prepare a preliminary assessment of available waste generation practices and facilities across the state, besides studying the linkages with the municipal water and sewage systems, availability of private contractors, logistics related to waste and treatment facilities etc.

The Government is planning to develop specific HCWM Plans like separate full plans for major urban hospitals and 'simplified' systems appropriate for smaller and rural facilities, including systems for segregation of critical wastes, easy collection, treatment and disposal of sharps, worker safety programme, choosing environmentally sound and cost-effective treatment technologies etc.

Sources said the HCWM Program would include training program for staff and workers of healthcare facilities, suitable to responsibilities and skills of different groups such as medical officers, doctors, nursing staff, health workers, cleaners etc., and would rope in NGOs help to implement it.

The programme also envisages establishing an institutional framework at each level, with constitution of hospital waste management committees or teams, monitoring and reporting systems to assess progress of implementation etc., said sources.