The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), South-East Asia Region, has launched a specialised Certificate in Health Care Waste Management (CHCWM). The programme is aimed at strengthening public health and environmental safety by building capacity for the safe handling and disposal of biomedical waste.

Targeting professionals and support staff in hospitals, primary health centres, municipal sanitation bodies, and waste management services, the CHCWM programme responds to the growing health and environmental risks posed by improper healthcare waste disposal.

The course is aligned with India’s Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended in 2018 and 2019), as well as WHO’s global standards for managing such waste. It covers types of healthcare waste, their impact on human and environmental health, infection control norms, legal frameworks, and regional best practices, with a strong emphasis on practical implementation.

Structured as a six-month programme, learners have up to two years to complete it. Enrolment is open in two cycles — January–June and July–December — and candidates must have passed Class 12 or hold an equivalent qualification.

Adopting a blended learning model, IGNOU offers students self-instructional materials, live web conferences, instructional videos, and access to online Q&A forums and support platforms. The curriculum includes theory modules and allows students to choose between a hands-on workshop or a project component. Assessment consists of assignments and a final term-end examination.

Admissions are facilitated via the Samarth portal — an integrated digital platform used by IGNOU and other Indian higher education institutions. It enables prospective learners to register, apply, upload documents, and pay fees online, while offering real-time application tracking and updates.

Additionally, IGNOU has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Odisha government to offer all academic programmes in the Odia language, furthering regional inclusion and accessibility in higher education.