This study has focused on threats to HCE and waste workers,who may be at high risk. There is also a risk to the general population,for whom contact with hazardous medical wastes is more
likely to occur after it has been dispersed in the environment. Environmental risks have arisen due to poor knowledge of waste operatives and their improper activities. However, no HCE was found to have an EMP and few (23 from 168) respondents were aware of WHO guidelines. Even senior management (35 from 69) had no knowledge of their establishment’s requirement to have an EMP.
The lack of appropriate or improper medical waste disposal facilities in Dhaka is largely due to inadequate resources and legislation. This leads to the persistence of inappropriate practices such as the
discharge of chemical waste into the general sewerage system or
dumping into or near agricultural land. Chemical waste in the form
of pharmaceutical waste (e.g., antibiotics and other drugs), heavy