The Role of Supply Chain Management in Healthcare Waste Management: A Scoping Review on Reverse Logistics, Inventory Control, and Environmental Health Impacts

Background and aim: Efficient healthcare waste management (HCWM), guided by supply chain management (SCM) principles such as reverse logistics (RL), inventory control, and regulation, is essential for reducing environmental and health risks. However, weak supply chain systems, particularly in low-resource settings, continue to undermine sustainability. This scoping review maps how SCM influences HCWM globally, focusing on RL and inventory control, their environmental health impacts, and opportunities to strengthen sustainable waste management systems.