An inconvenience or a time-bomb waiting to explode?

Abstract

South Africans were shocked on 2 December 2007 when the Sunday Times revealed that the country has a medical waste disposal crisis. The report focused on medical waste, including human tissue, blood-soaked old bandages and used syringes. Rotting body parts, discarded HIV test kits and other hazardous hospital waste were found illegally deposited in a Germiston warehouse. The waste material could be traced to more than 200 hospitals.