Management assessment of drug waste and other health care waste in Upland Region of Santa Catarina, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The management of health services waste is a major challenge for the government, because, despite progress in the legal aspects, it still presents serious problems, especially regarding the incorrect disposal of pharmaceutical waste. This study aimed at characterizing the process of pharmaceutical disposal and other types of waste from human health and veterinary services in a medium-sized city in the upland region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Visits were made to the participating health units, selected by convenience criteria, covering municipal health centers, pet shops, veterinary clinics, human care hospital, animal care hospital and waste collection service companies, totaling 15 units. Data collection took place from March to May 2014, with questionnaires and field observation script. The results revealed deficiencies in the management of pharmaceuticals waste, as well as in the management of health services waste, in segregation and storage stages, both in human as animal care institutions, with few exceptions. The greatest difficulties were observed in the animal care facilities, especially regarding the segregation and storage of contaminated waste, lack of care with sharps and a non-accordance with the biosafety standards. The absence of a Management Plan of Health Services Waste in health facilities and in the veterinary hospital, as well as the lack of training for professionals, dissimilarity in relation to the disposal of medicines, and lack of supervision by competent organs were the main causes for the current scenario of improper waste disposal in the region.

Keywords:
health care waste; drugs; human health; veterinary