Abstract:
Fallout of the digital revolution has been the growing amount of e-waste produced by healthcare institutions. Despite the promulgation of e-waste management and handling rules in 2011 by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India, and their subsequent revision in 2016 and 2018, e-waste management in healthcare facilities remains obscure. A study of the e-waste management practices of hospitals across Delhi reveals that only a handful of them collect data about their e-waste generated, and its disposal or reuse. The awareness of what constitutes e-waste remains poor among the healthcare facilities, and translates into equally sketchy e-waste management. With affordable pricing of e-healthcare products, and a ‘throwaway-happy’ medical community, the discourse on e-waste needs to be brought to the fore of every suitable medical platform to nudge the health care tribe into socially responsible and responsive mode, with positive consequences for the environment.

Key words: e-waste, extended producer responsibility, MOEF&CC, deposit refund scheme, CPCB