PUBLIC POLICY IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN UKRAINE: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION CONTEXT

Abstract

Public policy in the field of medical waste management in Ukraine through the prism of European integration processes is in the focus of the paper. The current state of adaptation of national legislation to EU norms is analyzed, in particular the implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On Waste Management" and updated sanitary norms. Four key systemic inconsistencies between the new regulatory framework and operational reality in healthcare institutions are identified: logistical, infrastructural, financial and regulatory and institutional. To overcome them, a set of measures is proposed, including the introduction of an electronic waste tracking system, an extended producer responsibility (EPR) mechanism, adaptation of protocols for the pre-hospital stage and the involvement of targeted financing instruments within the framework of the Ukraine Facility program.