Evaluation of Cytotoxic Drugs Waste Management in Gaza Strip Hospitals

Background: Cytotoxic drugs are used to prevent a tumor's growth and it is attacked directly toward DNA or against metabolic sites essential to cell replication. cytotoxic drugs don't just target cancerous cells, instead, they have an impact on all proliferating cell types, both healthy and malignant. Cytotoxic drugs wastes are hazardous to the environment and human health because it is genotoxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. Healthcare providers are directly exposed to it during transport, disposal, and handling. Management of cytotoxic waste includes minimizing, segregating, collecting, transporting, storing, treating, and disposing waste. The hospital or clinic should decide how to deal with hazardous drug waste produced during preparation and administration, spills, and disposal of products. Method: in this study, a descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to achieve the study objectives through a mixed approach (Quantitative and Qualitative). Two data collection methods were used to cover the research subjects: a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Result: The study showed that there is a moderate understanding of how to manage cytotoxic drug wastes. It’s evident that there are lack of appropriate laws for managing cytotoxic drugs waste, and there are lack of appropriate equipment or specific training courses for dealing with cytotoxic drug waste. Cytotoxic drugs waste are not disposed of through capsulation or chemical degradation, but rather through incineration and sterilization by microwave. Conclusion: The results provide the documentation of disposal processes and adherence to regulations are critical, while planning for spill management and treatment of employee side effects due to handling cytotoxic waste are essential issues. Additionally, opting for environmentally friendly disposal methods, such as encapsulation and chemical degradation, contributes to minimizing the impact on the environment.