Usage of disposable medical article was studied as a part of wastage reduction movement of Korea. One thousand clinics were selected out of 11,650 local clinic members for mail questionnaires by systmatic random sampling method from the listt of
local
clinic members, and the respondants 350 members were analysed.
Approximately 87.0% of the respondents expressed serious concerns over the current problems in Korea. Approximately 75.2% of respondents should be disinfected selectively for reuse, to contribute to the reduction of trash, while 16.7% answered
disposable medical articles should be used, due to their relationship to national health.
A medical clinics daily used a average, 77.82 syringes; 80.74 needles; 9.87 intravenouse injection sets; 3.9 steel needles or syringe needles; and 10.73 pairs of gloves.
Currently, 98.3% of intravenouse injection sets; 95.8% of gauze (4×8); 95.5% of needles' 92.5% of syringes, and 90.4% of cotton bandages are being discarded without being reused; however, some clinics recycle these items after applying
disinfection
In terms of annual expenditure on disposable items per clinic, the average expenses incurred for medical supplies was reckoned at about 352,000 Won per month, or about 4,200,000 Won per year. This, in turn, translates to an expenditure of about
50
billion Won per year by all clinics in the country. 80.1% of the respondents said they used special collectors to dispose of used disposable medical itmes: however, 15.3% said they discarded such used items in the same way as general trash.
Although it is very effective to give patients the impression of added hygiene through the use of disposable items, in addition to its being very convenient for the users, it is believed that if all items possible were recycled and reused first,
this
would be of material help in improving our serious environmental problems, while at the same time being more economical. Needless to say, however, the reuse of disposal inedical articles must not result in adversely affecting the nation's health.
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