Waste management in primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia: a policy analysis

Medical waste poses high risks to healthcare workers, patients, the environment, and public health. Governments have adopted measures and enacted policies to ensure proper medical waste management. Through a retrospective policy analysis, we analyzed the waste management policy for primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia. By adopting Walt and Gilson’s health policy analysis framework, we conducted a thematic analysis of documents to analyze the policy context, process, actors, and content. Contextual factors including accreditation, the Saudi Vision-2030 and the healthcare transformation plan contributed to the development of the policy. The policy was adapted from a regional policy that was enacted about 15 years ago. The policy content overlooked components relevant to the specific context of primary healthcare centers. Lack of training and cooperation among stakeholders challenged successful implementation and thus compliance with the policy. Respective stakeholders must take further actions to ensure implementation fidelity and sustainability of the policy.