The Ministry of Health has socialized Resolution 591 of April 4, 2024, with the purpose of comprehensively managing waste generated in medical care and other related activities, thus seeking to reduce risks to public health and environmental impact.
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This new manual, titled ‘Manual for the Comprehensive Management of Waste Generated in Health Care and Other Activities’, responds to the needs and problems presented in the country regarding waste management in the health sector. The resolution seeks to offer a clear and effective guide for the correct management of this waste.
Activities addressed in the manual include:
– Blood, tissue and semen banks.
– Liveries and biotechnology laboratories.
– Thanatopraxy services, morgues and autopsies.
– Washing hospital clothing and sterilization of surgical material.
– Veterinary services.
– Aesthetics and cosmetology.
– Centers specialized in piercing, pigmentation and tattoos.
The socialization event was attended by prominent authorities from the health sector. Among them, Jimena Galvis Sotelo, director of Inspection, Surveillance and Control of the Cundinamarca Health Secretariat, and Betsabé Ximena Velasco Hernández, director of Promotion and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Diego Escobar Ocampo, engineer from the Chemical Substances and Hazardous Waste Group Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, and Jennifer Adriana Dueñas Contreras, engineer from the Environmental Health Subdirectorate of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, also participated.
Recent figures indicate that Colombia generates approximately 600,000 tons of hazardous waste annually. Of this total, the Cundinamarca health sector contributes 10%. The proper categorization of waste into hazardous and non-hazardous is essential to improve management and reduce associated risks.
This manual is intended to be a useful tool for different institutions and centers that manage health-related waste, from hospitals to veterinary clinics and beauty centers. The correct management of this waste not only protects the environment, but also ensures public health.
Resolution 591 marks a significant step towards more responsible and sustainable management of waste in the health sector, offering clear guidelines for its correct disposal. The implementation of these practices seeks to promote a healthier and safer environment for everyone.
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