TTLV: OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS IN HANOI CITY

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Duc Thanh                        

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: March 1, 1977

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision No. 2119/2011/QD-XHNV-SDH dated November 1, 2011, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: The thesis defense deadline was extended from November 2013 to December 2014.

7. Thesis title:OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS IN HANOI CITY

8. Major: Science and Technology Management Code: 60 34 04 12

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Khiem

10. Summary of the thesis results:

The thesis is presented in approximately 100 pages, comprising 3 chapters with the following content:

This thesis has studied the current state of technology application in medical waste treatment and the barriers to implementing medical waste treatment technology. Based on this, it proposes solutions and plans for the future application of medical waste treatment technology in hospitals in Hanoi.

A comprehensive survey and analysis of statistical data and reports on the application of medical waste treatment technology in several hospitals in Hanoi reveals that the current medical waste treatment practices in these hospitals face many difficulties, inadequacies, and inconsistencies. Some hospitals have installed modern medical waste treatment systems, but they are not operated regularly, and the operating staff do not meet the requirements or have received proper technical training. Many hospitals lack funding for medical waste treatment, resulting in inadequate environmental sanitation and contributing to soil, water, and air pollution. Poor medical waste treatment becomes a major source of disease, threatening the health and safety of medical staff and the community, especially those living near hospitals. This leads to conflicts over environmental pollution, particularly in older hospitals located within residential areas. The thesis has identified several barriers to the application of medical waste treatment technology, including insufficient awareness among the public, healthcare staff, and government levels regarding environmental protection; inconsistent and uncoordinated mechanisms and policies in waste management and treatment; difficulties in adopting modern technology due to lack of funding and operating personnel; and infrequent inspections and thorough handling of polluting facilities.

After identifying the barriers to adopting modern medical waste treatment technologies in hospitals, this thesis proposes several solutions to mitigate these barriers: strengthening public awareness campaigns on environmental protection in healthcare for government leaders at all levels, healthcare workers, and the community, considering this a responsibility of every citizen and society as a whole; promoting the management and supervision of medical waste; investing in the construction of separate waste treatment facilities far from residential areas; and selecting appropriate, modern, advanced, and environmentally friendly medical waste treatment technologies to minimize environmental conflicts between hospitals and the community.

11. Practical applicability: Feasible

12. Future research directions: None

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION OF MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name of researcher: Nguyen Duc Thanh 2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: March 1, 1977 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on researcher certification No.2119/2011/QD-XHNV-SDH dated November 1, 2011 of the Rector of VNU - University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

6. Changes in training process: The time for thesis defense is renewed from November 2013 to December 2014.

7. Name of the thesis: OVERCOMING BARRIERS IN INNOVATION OF MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY OF HOSPITALS IN HANOI

8. Major: Science and Technology Management 9. Code: 60 34 04 12

10. Instructor: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Vu Van Khiem

11. Summary of the thesis:

The thesis is presented in about 100 pages, consisting of 3 Chapters with the following contents:

The thesis researches the current situation of technological application in medical waste treatment and barriers in application of medical waste treatment technology, then it presents solutions and application of medical waste treatment technology for hospitals in Hanoi in the future.

Through surveying, synthesizing, analyzing statistical data and reports of the application of medical waste treatment technology in some hospitals in Hanoi city, it is clear that there are still many difficulties, concerns and inconsistence in waste treatment of hospitals. Some hospitals are equipped with modern system in medical waste treatment but with irregular operation. Operators of the system are unqualified and improperly trained in the field. Some hospitals lack funds for medical waste treatment. Consequently, the treatment of medical waste in some hospitals fails to ensure environmental hygiene, polluting land, water and air environments. Bad treatment of medical waste is the big source of diseases, threatening the health of medical staff and community, particularly households who live in nearby areas. This leads to conflicts of environmental pollution, particularly in hospitals that are old and located in residential areas. The thesis points out some barriers in application of medical waste treatment technology such as insufficient awareness of people, medical staff and authorities to environmental protection. Mechanism and policies in waste management and treatment are inconsistent and asynchronous. Acceptance of modern technologies is difficult and faces insufficiency of fund and operating personnel. The inspection and settlement of facilities causing environmental pollution are not regular.

After eliminating barriers in application of modern technologies in medical waste treatment in hospitals, the thesis suggests some solutions to limit such barriers. Such solutions are to promote communication and raise on medical environmental awareness protection of leaders of authorities, medical staff and community, considering it as responsibility of each citizen and of the whole society; enhance the direction and management of medical waste; invest in building waste treatment areas far from residential areas; choose suitable, modern, advanced and environment-friendly technologies in medical waste treatment in order to minimize environmental conflicts between hospitals and community.

12. Practical applicability of the project: Feasible

13. Further studies: None

14. Published works related to the thesis: None