892 Pak J Med Sci 2011 Vol. 27 No. 4 www.pjms.com.pk Original Article Medical waste management practices in Turkey: A case study in Sakarya Mahmut Akbolat 1 , Cemile Dede 2 , Oguz Isik 3 , Hakan Saglam 4 ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the knowledge levels of hospital administrators about the process of collection, temporary storage and delivery to the authorities about disposal of medical wastes. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in Turkey in June 2010. Questionnaire technique was used as the data collection tool in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The results were assessed at significance level of p < 0.05. Result s: There was at least one manager responsible for waste management at each healthcare institution and all institutions had a medical waste management plan. Majority of institutions had a temporary storage for medical wastes. Genotoxic pharmaceutical chemical and heavy metal-containing wastes, as well as pressurized vessels were collected separately from other medical wastes. Average 1697 Kg medical waste per/ day, and average 1.39 Kg medical waste per/ bed were produced in healthcare institutions. Conclusion: Effective medical waste management depends on active support of hospital administration and training of staff which are responsible for segregation, collection, storage, transportation and disposal of medical wastes. KEYWORDS: Medical waste, Medical waste management, Hospital administrator. Pak J Med Sci July - September 2011 Vol. 27 No. 4 892-895 How to cite this article: Akbolat M, Dede C, Isik O, Saglam H. Medical waste management practices in Turkey: A case study in Sakarya. Pak J Med Sci 2011;27(4):892-895 1. Mahmut Akbolat, PhD, 2. Cemile Dede, MSc, 3. Oguz Isik, PhD, 4. Hakan Saglam, Sakarya Provincial Health Directorate, Sakarya, Turkey. 1-3: Sakarya University Health Services Vocational School, Sakarya, Turkey. Correspondence: Mahmut Akbolat, Sakarya University, Saglik Hizmetleri Meslek Yuksekokulu, Serdivan Yolu Uzeri Sakarya, Turkey. E-mail: m.akbolat@gmail.com * Received for Publication: May 2, 2011 * Accepted: June 16, 2011 INTRODUCTION It is well known that hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, veterinary clinics and many more establishments have to dispose of waste mate- rials that have been generated in the process of medi- cal care and treatment. They are also generated at other establishments related to medical care and treatment, such as general practitioner offices, dental clinics, chiropractor offices, acupuncture, at-home patient care, and harm reduction programs for drug addicts and undertakers. 1-3 The waste gen- erated from hospitals is now recognized as a serious problem that may have detrimental effects either on the environment or on human beings through direct or indirect contact. 4 There is no single definition of medical waste, and thus, the terms medical waste, hospital waste, and infectious waste have often been used interchange- ably. 5 But, any waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissues, blood or body fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings or syringes, needles or other sharp instruments, being waste which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous (including microbial (infec- tious), pharmacological and/or physical [e.g. sharps] dangers) to any person coming into contact with it. 1 Although medical wastes represent a relatively small portion of the total waste generated in a community, medical waste management is considered an