• • Policy evolution: 413 policy documents (166 national, 247 provincial) collected from 2003-2024, revealing four distinct phases: initial self-disposal, exploratory management, foundational system building, and rapid development, with a shift from macro-level national guidance to specific local operational directives.
• • Regional disparity: Eastern coastal provinces exhibit more robust policy frameworks and higher implementation intensity compared to central and western regions, attributed to disparities in technical expertise and capital investment, leading to uneven facility coverage and regulatory enforcement.
• • Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic caused a dramatic surge in medical waste generation, exposing critical bottlenecks in disposal capacity and emergency response, prompting urgent policy interventions and the need for resilient, scalable treatment infrastructure.
• • Technology shift: Non-incineration technologies (e.g., chemical disinfection, microwave, high-temperature steam) are increasingly favored due to lower environmental impact and operational costs, yet policy support and standardization remain insufficient, hindering widespread adoption.