The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new free online course aimed at improving health-care waste management practices and helping countries build safer, more sustainable healthcare systems. The new training program provides practical guidance for health workers, facility managers, policymakers, and environmental health professionals responsible for managing medical waste services.
The course, titled “Advanced Health Care Waste Management, Including Considerations for Treatment, Mercury and Pharmaceutical Waste,” is available through the WHO Academy online learning platform. It was developed by WHO and UNICEF with contributions from international partners to support healthcare facilities in improving waste management from generation to final disposal.
Safe management of health-care waste is an essential part of protecting patients, healthcare workers, communities, and the environment. Medical facilities produce different categories of waste, including general waste, infectious materials, pharmaceutical waste, and waste containing hazardous substances. Without proper handling, these materials can create serious health risks and contribute to environmental pollution.
The new WHO online course focuses on strengthening knowledge and skills needed to manage the entire healthcare waste process. Participants learn about waste classification, segregation, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal. The training also covers waste reduction strategies, recycling approaches, infrastructure planning, treatment capacity development, and the safe management of mercury-containing medical devices and pharmaceutical waste.
The self-paced course consists of six learning modules and includes knowledge checks, a final assessment, and confirmation of participation through a certificate. It is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to complete the training in one sitting or across multiple sessions. Most learners can complete the course within two hours or less.
The launch comes at a time when many healthcare facilities worldwide continue to experience significant challenges in managing medical waste safely. Recent estimates from the WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme indicate that progress has been made, but major gaps remain.
In 2025, approximately 71% of healthcare facilities globally had basic health-care waste management services, while 21% had limited services and 7% had no waste management services at all. Healthcare facilities serving an estimated 571 million people lacked any form of waste management service, meaning waste was not safely separated, treated, or disposed of.
These challenges highlight the need for improved training, stronger policies, better infrastructure, and increased investment in healthcare waste systems. Effective waste management is not only about having treatment equipment but also requires trained personnel, proper standards, reliable monitoring, adequate financing, and clearly defined responsibilities.
Bruce Gordon, WHO Director a.i. of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration, emphasized the importance of safe healthcare waste practices in protecting health workers, communities, and the environment. He noted that the new course provides practical knowledge that health facility teams, planners, and decision-makers can use to improve waste management in their own settings.
The WHO training program is open to a wide range of professionals, including healthcare facility managers, medical waste workers, environmental health specialists, public health planners, policymakers, and technical partners supporting healthcare systems. No previous specialized knowledge is required, making the course accessible to both experienced professionals and those seeking to develop their understanding of healthcare waste management.
Healthcare waste management has become increasingly important as countries work toward stronger health systems and environmental sustainability goals. Poorly managed hazardous waste can expose healthcare workers and surrounding communities to infections and toxic substances. It can also contaminate water and soil and contribute to harmful emissions when waste is burned using unsafe methods.
Although approximately 85% of healthcare waste is considered non-hazardous, effective segregation at the source remains one of the most important steps in reducing risks. Separating general waste from hazardous materials allows healthcare facilities to minimize unnecessary treatment costs, improve recycling opportunities, and reduce environmental impacts.
The WHO and UNICEF initiative also supports broader global efforts to improve infection prevention and control, strengthen healthcare quality, and promote climate-friendly health systems. As healthcare demand continues to increase worldwide, countries will need stronger waste management strategies to protect public health while reducing environmental harm.
Training programs such as this WHO online course provide healthcare professionals with access to international guidance and practical tools that can help improve local waste management systems. By increasing awareness and technical capacity, the program aims to support safer healthcare environments and more sustainable practices across healthcare facilities globally.
The introduction of the course reflects growing recognition that healthcare waste management is a critical component of modern healthcare delivery. Governments, healthcare institutions, and environmental professionals are expected to play an important role in improving waste practices and ensuring that healthcare services remain safe for both people and the planet.
The WHO online course provides an opportunity for professionals around the world to gain valuable knowledge, strengthen their skills, and contribute to improved healthcare waste management systems within their communities and organizations.
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