scope:

INTRODUCTION

a) Integrating medical and technological breakthroughs, medical engineering applied to naval programs is critical to optimise medical support at sea for navy warships crews and troops deployed ashore (sea basing). Adequate medical support technologies have to be known to achieve better medical service at sea and to be compliant with present and future emerging regulations. Health care waste (HCW) management is one of these new technical issues.

b) At NATO level, in the framework of STANAG-2510, the EPWG ("Environmental Protection Working Group") has already produced preliminary technical information about "Health Care Waste Management" by military forces (see annex 1 of the present report). This work has been conducted with the help of MMMP-WG ("Medical Material and Military Pharmacy Working Group") belonging to the COMEDS ("Chief of Military Medical Services"). MMMP's main objectives are: the definition of common policies, procedures and principles regarding military Health Care activities, the definition of common specifications and requirements for medical equipment, the definition of recommendations on cooperation and interoperability. The plenary meetings are annual.

c) The aim of the present document is to provide further knowledge on national practices, such as legislative contexts, shipboard procedures and technical responses in force or that may be implemented aboard NATO navies' vessels and land bases. This document may also be used by health professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, surgeons ...), engineers and military staff wishing to share their experiences, determines their requirements and constraints and find long term solutions. National responses in term of strategies and national points of contact are given in annex.