OBJECTIVE To analyze the regional distribution characteristics of medical waste compositions and the stability of waste generation in selected primary healthcare institutions across different regions in China, to provide a reference for efficiently allocating collection, storage and transportation capacity, and to ensure the safe and standardized disposal of medical waste.
METHODS From May to Oct. 2024, field investigations were conducted at one selected institution each in the eastern, central and western regions of China. Medical waste generated by local primary healthcare institutions on a given day was unpacked, sorted, weighed and recorded. The data were then statistically analyzed.
RESULTS The medical waste generated by primary healthcare institutions mainly consisted of infectious medical waste （54.14%） and injurious medical waste （45.86%）. Among them, glass （30.74%）, metal （15.12%） and plastic （40.48%） accounted for relatively high proportions, with the combined proportion of these three categories exceeding 75% across the eastern, central and western regions. The components with relatively high mass proportions of characteristic medical waste mainly included glass medicine bottles, ampoules, infusion tubes and syringes. Among the common components, the use of PE gloves was more prevalent than that of latex gloves.
CONCLUSIONS Primary healthcare institutions generate a relatively small variety of medical waste, but the components are not singular. The level of economic development, population base, scale of healthcare institutions and efficiency of medical waste collection and transportation are all key factors affecting waste generation stability. It is necessary to make concerted efforts from the four dimensions, including policy, technology, resources and society, to build a more resilient medical waste management system.
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