How ethical is health care waste in South Africa?

The far-reaching ramifications of not correctly disposing of medical waste, of not 'doing the right thing, at the right time', the potential regulation, enforcement, and the penalties that could be accrued as a result, are under the spotlight of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) this year.

Ethics particularly important in medical waste environment

Stan Jewaskiewitz, president of the IWMSA says, "While ethics play a huge role in any form of waste management, the debate around ethics in the medical waste environment is particularly important in order to achieve cohesion, integration and a proper set of standards that are clearly understood and which can be effectively applied." According to the Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, professional ethics is described as the moral issues that arise because of the specialist knowledge that professionals attain, and how the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public.

The IWMSA hopes to achieve great strides at this year's Health Care Waste Summit & Expo 2011 and has secured distinguished speakers from several sectors for the event; one of the keynote addresses reflecting the theme of the summit, titled "Accepting Your Medical Waste Responsibility... Ethically!", will be given by Prof. Gideon Els of the University of Johannesburg. Prof Els will specifically investigate and evaluate how the effective management and implementation of ethics will coherently add value to the Southern African health care waste sector, as well as committing to best practice governance and service provision.

Don't waste this opportunity

Jewaskiewitz adds, "There will be many other thought-provoking, strategic, and practical issues covered by a host of local and international speakers, as well as an interactive forum during which, it is hoped, lively debate will be sparked."
Jewaskiewitz expects a record turnout for the summit, and continues, "Anyone who is involved in the medical waste industry and who wants to have access to up-to-the-minute information, or be able to voice their opinion, will benefit from attending this ground-breaking event which is expected to result in substantial progress in the field." He encourages "As a united front, all stakeholders can achieve the standards we so desperately need in the correct management of medical waste."

For a full line-up of topics and speakers, and to book your place at the summit, visit www.hcwforum.org or for further info, contact André Snyman on +27 (0)83 448 8233 , or email az.oc.asmwi@selas.

The IWMSA is a professional, multi-disciplinary organisation with voluntary membership established to promote the science and practice of waste management and is a non-profit organisation. For more information go to www.iwmsa.co.za.