As part of the development of the National Biomedical Waste Management Strategy, the Health Promotion and Environmental Protection Department (DPSPE) of the Ministry of Public Health conducted an assessment of biomedical waste management in healthcare institutions (June 22 - July 7, 2025).
A team from the Technical Working Group, accompanied by experts from "Unité Caribbean", conducted field visits to healthcare facilities across the country. The objectives were to assess the political, legal, and administrative framework; the condition of equipment (incinerators, autoclaves, etc...); waste sorting, storage, and disposal practices; and staff capacity to manage this type of waste.
This crucial step will identify weaknesses in the system and propose solutions that comply with World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
To correct the observed and previously reported malfunctions, 30 technicians from 10 health departments underwent intensive training on optimal biomedical waste management, incinerator maintenance according to international standards, and compliance with environmental standards to strengthen local skills for safer waste management and reduce health and environmental risks.
