Twenty-eight healthcare facilities in the state have been chosen for the implementation of “Environmentally Sound Management of Medical Wastes in India” programme which aims at streamlining the management and disposal of biomedical waste.
The project was launched in the city on Tuesday. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Government of India is the executing agency in association with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), M S Ramaiah Medical College and Global Environment Facility.
Four large (more than 500 beds), eight medium (more than 100 beds) and 16 small (less than 100 beds) healthcare facilities have been chosen in each of the five states - Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Punjab.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the project aims at better implementation of the new 2016 biomedical waste management rules. Speaking after the launch, Dr ShakriProsadDhua, regional co-ordinator, UNIDO, said, “There is a better way to dispose of biomedical waste than burning it and the country needs to look at alternatives.”
“When biomedical waste is burnt, it emits dioxins and furans. With the help of non-burn microwave systems, the waste is only disinfected. For instance, the bedspreads used in operation theatres are being burnt at present. With the microwave systems, it could be disinfected, washed and re-used,” he added.
During the training programme, the microwave device would be procured by M S Ramaiah Medical College, Vydehi Medical College, Bangalore Medical College and Mysore Medical College to help the staff learn the process.
Dhua said as part of the training, the staff members of 28 hospitals from across the state would be taught to use a device that uses microwaves to disinfect hospital waste which could be recycled later. Medical college hospitals, clinics, corporate healthcare facilities and community medicine centres have been chosen for the training.
