Biomedical Waste Governance in BRICS: Comparative Policy Perspectives and SDG Integration

Biomedical waste poses significant risks to public health and the environment when not managed properly. While healthcare facilities (HCFs) are intended to heal, they also generate hazardous waste such as used syringes, sharps, and contaminated materials that can exacerbate environmental pollution if treated inadequately. In India, despite implementing the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, challenges persist due to systemic non-compliance, especially among unauthorized HCFs, and insufficient waste treatment infrastructure. Accordingly, this article employs a doctrinal and comparative policy approach to assess regulatory frameworks and implementation strategies across the BRICS countries. Using 2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) statistics, it examines India’s biomedical waste management policy while drawing crossjurisdictional insights from Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. The report finds major areas of policy convergence and divergence, particularly on regulatory design, publicprivate compliance mechanisms, and technology integration. Based on this comparative study, the article offers the Public-Private Compliance Incentive Model (PPCIM) and recommends regionally coordinated efforts to bridge regulatory and infrastructure gaps. By situating these proposals within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically 3, 6, 12, and 17, this article emphasises the critical role of BRICS collaboration in transforming biomedical waste management from a regulatory challenge to a catalyst for sustainable health and environmental governance.