Waste Not, Heal More: Managing Medical Waste in a Greener Way
In the complex ecosystem of modern healthcare, one issue remains dangerously under-addressed: medical waste management. While much attention is given to treatments, diagnostics, and infrastructure, the by-products of care—used syringes, pharmaceutical residue, contaminated dressings—are often mishandled, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. For Kenya, the challenge is magnified by rapid urbanization, stretched public systems, and limited enforcement of environmental standards.
Yet, amid these challenges, a quiet but determined transformation is underway. Forward-thinking healthcare providers are beginning to treat waste not just as an environmental risk, but as a core public health issue—one that demands innovation, accountability, and sustainable solutions. At the forefront of this movement are institutions led by Jayesh Saini, whose network of hospitals, including Lifecare Hospitals, Bliss Healthcare, and Fertility Point Kenya, is pioneering eco-conscious waste management strategies.
Traditionally, medical waste in Kenya has been handled through outdated practices—open burning, shallow pit disposal, or co-mingling with general waste. These methods pose serious risks: biohazards leaking into groundwater, toxic air emissions, and the spread of infections through improperly discarded sharps. The consequences are not only environmental but human—endangering hospital staff, waste collectors, and entire communities.
Recognizing these dangers, Jayesh Saini and his affiliated healthcare networks have begun deploying integrated waste management systems that go beyond compliance. These systems treat waste as a lifecycle challenge—requiring segregation at the source, safe handling protocols, and environmentally responsible disposal.
At Lifecare Hospitals, for instance, color-coded waste bins are placed in all wards, labs, and operating theaters. This seemingly simple step drastically improves segregation accuracy, ensuring that infectious, pharmaceutical, and general waste streams are handled separately. Staff undergo routine training to understand not just the “how,” but the “why” of waste safety—creating a culture of responsibility that begins with frontline caregivers.
What happens after waste leaves the ward is just as crucial. Several facilities have adopted autoclave-based sterilization units to neutralize biohazardous waste before disposal. Unlike incineration, which releases harmful pollutants like dioxins, autoclaving uses steam and high pressure to disinfect waste in a controlled, emission-free process. These systems are particularly effective for sharps, swabs, and surgical waste.
In locations where incineration is necessary, hospitals under the Jayesh Saini umbrella are upgrading to high-temperature, dual-chamber incinerators that meet WHO emissions standards. These units minimize smoke and unburnt residue, drastically reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional single-chamber burners used in many rural clinics.
Pharmaceutical waste is another critical frontier. Expired or unused medications are among the most poorly managed waste types across Africa. At Bliss Healthcare clinics, unused medications are cataloged digitally, tracked, and sent for controlled disposal through licensed vendors—eliminating the risk of these substances entering the black market or contaminating water systems.
One of the more innovative practices gaining ground is waste data monitoring. In pilot projects within the Lifecare network, waste volumes are logged daily using digital dashboards. These dashboards not only monitor compliance but help administrators identify patterns—such as departments generating excessive hazardous waste—and take corrective action. This data-driven approach is part of the broader “green operations” model promoted by Jayesh Saini, where every element of healthcare delivery is measurable, optimizable, and environmentally sound.
Sustainable waste management also includes rethinking procurement and packaging. Hospitals are now sourcing supplies with minimal or recyclable packaging, and choosing reusable items where safe—such as sterilizable surgical tools over disposables. By tackling waste upstream, these hospitals reduce the burden on downstream disposal systems.
Perhaps most importantly, these efforts are being tied to community awareness campaigns. Waste management doesn’t end at the hospital gate. Public education drives—often led in partnership with the Lifecare Foundation—inform local communities about the risks of scavenging medical waste and the importance of safe disposal. Posters, school visits, and town hall discussions are helping demystify medical waste, reducing stigma and encouraging vigilance.
These initiatives are not just ticking regulatory boxes—they are creating a replicable model for how private hospitals can lead on public safety. Jayesh Saini’s leadership reflects a broader philosophy: healthcare should heal, not harm—not only within hospital walls, but in the wider ecological systems it touches.
Still, challenges remain. Many smaller clinics, especially in rural Kenya, lack access to proper disposal infrastructure. Scaling sustainable practices requires collaboration across sectors—government incentives, public-private partnerships, and investment in regional waste processing centers. Here again, Saini’s work serves as a prototype. His networks are now in discussions with local authorities to develop shared medical waste treatment hubs, which can serve both private and public facilities.
There is also growing interest in green certifications. Several Bliss and Lifecare facilities are exploring compliance with international standards such as ISO 14001 for environmental management systems, positioning themselves as sustainability leaders in East Africa’s healthcare sector.
The outcome of these practices is two-fold: a healthier environment and enhanced public trust. In an era where climate resilience and infection control are equally urgent, sustainable medical waste management becomes more than a back-end operation—it becomes a front-line defense.
As other healthcare providers across Africa look for models to emulate, Jayesh Saini’s integrated waste strategy offers clarity. It proves that medical excellence and environmental stewardship can—and must—coexist. When done right, waste management is not a cost—it is an investment in safety, sustainability, and the long-term credibility of the healthcare system.
From smart segregation to eco-friendly disposal, from data dashboards to community outreach, Kenya’s hospitals are beginning to embody a simple truth: how we treat our waste reflects how seriously we take our duty to heal.
