Health Dept to outsource disposal of bio-medical waste

The Tribune , Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Correspondent : Ruchika M. Khanna
Panchkula, April 26

The Haryana Pollution Control Board (HPCB) has pulled up the Health Department, Haryana, over its failure to comply with provisions of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules. The Board has observed that most of the government- run hospitals and health centres were not disposing off hazardous bio-medical waste properly.

After the Pollution Control Board gave the Health Department a 15-day ultimatum to get its stock in order last week, the latter has decided to outsource the disposal of hazardous bio- medical waste from all government hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC) and dispensaries in the state. This decision comes as most of the 14 incinerators installed by the Health Department in various districts of Haryana have been rendered defunct. At places where the incinerators are in working order, they do not have air pollution control device (because it is expensive at Rs 25 lakh).

As a result, there has been no proper disposal of bio- medical waste including human anatomical waste, animal waste, microbiology and biotechnology waste and cytotoxic medicines. Officials in the Pollution Control Board say that though only 15 per cent of the total bio medical waste is hazardous, but if this is not segregated and disposed off scientifically, the entire waste becomes hazardous. “In several hospitals, disposable syringes are being thrown away after use without breaking the needles. These are later picked up by rag pickers, washed, recycled and repackaged. This is of grave concern to the health of the public,” says the official.

The Health Department authorities say that because of the high cost of running incinerators at government hospitals, inability to buy shredders (for breaking all waste sharps like needles, syringes, scalpels) and autoclaves, and high cost of setting up effluent treatment plants, they have now decided to outsource the disposal of bio-medical waste.

The Pollution Control Board has recently notified four private companies for disposal of bio-medical waste in the state — HAT Waste Management, Karnal; Synergy Waste Management, Hisar, EAM Solution India Limited, Faridabad; and, Vulcom Waste Management, Gurgaon.

It may be noted that there are 49 government hospitals in Haryana, including five ESI hospitals, 410 PHCs, 72 CHCs and 39 dispensaries. It is estimated that about 3000 kg of hazardous bio- medical waste is generated per week from various government hospitals and health centres.

Senior Health Department officials say that they are now ensuring that the bio-medical waste is properly segregated at the hospital/ CHC/ PHC level, before it is disposed.

 
SOURCE : The Tribune, Wednesday, April 27, 2005
 


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