Pharmaceutical Waste Management: Practices and Challenges in Burmeso, Indonesia

Pharmaceutical waste management is a critical issue globally, especially in developing countries like Indonesia, where rapid urbanization and industrial growth can strain existing waste management infrastructures. Burmeso, a region in Indonesia, faces unique challenges and employs specific practices in managing pharmaceutical waste.

 

Current Practices

In Burmeso, pharmaceutical waste management primarily revolves around disposal practices at healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Often, these facilities segregate pharmaceutical waste into categories like hazardous and non-hazardous before disposal. Non-hazardous waste typically includes expired medications and packaging materials, while hazardous waste comprises items contaminated with cytotoxic drugs or infectious materials.

 

The disposal methods commonly used include landfilling and incineration. Landfilling is a straightforward but potentially hazardous method due to leaching of chemicals into soil and groundwater. Incineration, though effective in reducing waste volume, raises concerns about air pollution and requires sophisticated technology to manage emissions safely.

 

Challenges

Burmeso faces several challenges in effectively managing pharmaceutical waste:

 

Lack of Awareness and Education: Many healthcare professionals and the general public are unaware of proper disposal methods and the risks associated with improper handling of pharmaceutical waste.

 

Infrastructure Deficiencies: Limited resources and infrastructure for waste management pose significant challenges. Rural areas often lack proper facilities for safe disposal.

 

Regulatory and Enforcement Issues: Inconsistent enforcement of regulations and inadequate monitoring exacerbate the problem. Compliance with waste management regulations is often low due to a lack of oversight.

 

Environmental Impact: Improper disposal methods can lead to environmental degradation, affecting soil, water, and air quality. Pharmaceutical residues in water bodies can harm aquatic ecosystems and human health.

 

Health Risks: Exposure to pharmaceutical waste poses health risks to waste handlers, healthcare workers, and the community at large, especially in the absence of proper protective measures.

 

Mitigation Strategies

Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach:

 

Education and Training: Increase awareness among healthcare professionals and the public about proper pharmaceutical waste management practices.

 

Infrastructure Development: Invest in waste management infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to ensure safe disposal and minimize environmental impact.

 

Regulatory Strengthening: Strengthen enforcement of existing regulations and develop new guidelines where necessary to improve compliance and monitoring.

 

Technological Innovation: Explore safer disposal technologies such as advanced incineration methods or pharmaceutical waste treatment plants.

 

Community Engagement: Involve local communities in waste management initiatives to foster a sense of responsibility and sustainability.

 

Conclusion

Pafiburmeso faces significant challenges stemming from inadequate infrastructure, awareness, and regulatory enforcement. Addressing these issues requires concerted efforts from government agencies, healthcare providers, and the community to implement effective waste management practices and mitigate environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal. By adopting comprehensive strategies and fostering collaboration, Burmeso can move towards sustainable pharmaceutical waste management practices beneficial for both public health and the environment.

Accepting Digital Solutions for Workplace Mental Wellness

The situation of mental health in the United States is worrying, with 20% of Americans suffering from a mental disease each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental disease. Anxiety disorders appear to be particularly frequent, yet the gap between those who require care and those who receive it remains large. In 2021, just 42% of adults with mental illnesses received treatment, while 10.6% had no insurance coverage at all. The average delay in seeking care is 11 years after the onset of symptoms.

This delay and reluctance to seek help are especially problematic in the workplace, potentially hurting productivity and overall employee well-being. Employees with mental illnesses are often less able to concentrate, multitask, and fulfill deadlines.

Also Read: Top Five HR Certification Programs to Upskill Your Knowledge in 2024

The reasons for avoiding treatment highlighted by Sapien Labs in the Mental Health Million Project ring true in the professional context: mistrust of the mental health system, a lack of knowledge about where to seek help, a preference for self-help, financial constraints, stigma. This frequently results in an unhappy loop in which employees’ fear of judgment or incapacity to seek help impairs their performance, which worsens their health.

Misinformation about mental health is a big contributor to workplace silence on these concerns. Many employees believe that disclosing to mental health issues shows weakness, fearing criticism from peers or repercussions in their careers. Only one in every five employees says they feel entirely safe discussing their mental health with their coworkers.

Competitive careers for science and commerce students

The mega confusing question science or commerce, which is the best career stream to choose, has always been a debatable topic. Often times, science is regarded as one of the most prestigious and lucrative options as the doors open wide for various career opportunities while commerce has only a set series of careers. Having said that, the facts remains that everything in the space and beyond to the core of the Earth – is Science that dominates the world. But that does not mean a person having keen interest for finances should step into science, he/she can always opt for commerce in that case. Hence students should decide themselves as to which stream they wish to go for, according to their interests. Both are equally rewarding if pursued in an appropriate manner.

Science, according to the dictionary, is defined to be the practical and intellectual activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment, commerce is a study of trade and business activities such as the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer.

Top careers for commerce students
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
LAWYERS
FINANCIAL BROKER
INVESTMENT BANKER
COMPANY SECRETARY
BFSI AGENT
STOCK BROKER
FOREX TRADING EXECUTIVE
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Commerce graduates who complete their higher studies have broader chances of excelling at the most rewarding career opportunities like CA and Law. These careers require a lot of preparation and study that needs to pursue in designated planned manner. In order to opt for a brighter career make sure you choose a well recognized college that offers global placements. Some of the best junior colleges in Maharashtra also carry out entrance exams to assess candidates.

On the other hand students who complete their graduation in Science have more possible career opportunities with respect to growth and success.

Some of these include –

MBBS
MEDICAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST
BIOTECHNOLOGY EXPERT
FORENSIC SCIENTIST
GENETIC ENGINEERING ( IS A BRANCH OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND DNA STUDY)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL CAREERS
PHARMACY
PSYCHOLOGY
HUMAN ANATOMY EXPERT
Although some of these careers require an Arts background, a science graduate too, if interested can go for it. It is not a mandatory thing to be from an arts background only, but if you are you get an added advantage of clearing your basics. Sandip University, one of the top junior science colleges in Nasik offers great infrastructure and qualified faculties that train you to be the best.

It is spread across 300 acres of spacious campus in Nashik, with free Wifi and other amenities for the students. Sandip University is ranking the highest and is one of the best junior science and Commerce College in Nasik

Along with science and commerce, they also offer other professional courses like, Fashion designing, law, polytechnic, cosmetology, engineering, Mtech, Btech and others. You can also check out more courses by visiting their website.

While it is a good idea to decide the best stream for yourself, it is also equally necessary to analyze your areas of interests and expertise in order to go for the most appropriate option. So, even if your peers and teachers agreed to the fact that science is the most lucrative streams to opt for, you can do a good research about the most rewarding and successful career opportunities you might have after completing your studies. If you think that aligns with your core expertise you can go ahead with it.

There are certain careers that a commerce graduate can pull off better than a science or arts graduate and the reason behind it very simple; basics learning. For instance if you are aiming to become a financial advisor, you cannot begin studying medicine or art that gives no strong foundation to your basics, hence in which case you should wisely plan your decision and opt for commerce in that scenario.

It is possible that some students might not have that sort of clarity as to which is the right career for them. In this case a career counseling session can be helpful.