ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Sambit DashSubscribe to Sambit Dash

Neglect of Household Biomedical Waste

While India has had a biomedical waste management rule since 1998, which was modified for ease in 2016, household biomedical waste has been neglected. Increased lifespan, rise of non-communicable diseases, the growing buying power, and better access to healthcare have resulted in the increased generation of household biomedical waste. This poses serious challenges to a frail public health system. This growing problem needs to be tackled by acknowledging it, introducing guidelines, and decentralising solutions, including facilitating recycling.

Whatever NEXT?

The proposal of a National Exit Test as an exit examination for MBBS graduates to ensure a minimum quality standard is desirable in a country with large gaps in healthcare. However, in its current form it could be reduced to just another examination that can be gamed and one that does not ensure basic skills. Sound designing, increased investment in testing infrastructure, and phased planning and implementation are needed to ensure that NEXT serves as a panacea to the lack of standardised medical graduate output in the country.

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