Health care waste management: a neglected and growing public health problem worldwide

Abstract

The objective of this Short Communication is to promulgate an inventory of 87 papers pertaining to health care waste management practices and challenges in 40 low and middle income countries worldwide amassed through a multi-language systematic review. Herein, we discuss the major gaps, failures, and frequently reported themes by geographic region. Following this we outline a proposed research agenda moving forward, and conclude that greater research and attention towards these unintended consequences of technologic progress in medical care delivery is needed to address and understand this growing public health threat around the world.