Biomedical waste management to be strengthened

Despite outsourcing the biomedical waste management work to another company, safe disposal of medical waste continues to be a major concern. Authorities say there are lapses in following the segregation and disposal procedures.

Nagasundari

Of late biomedical waste management has emerged as an issue of major concern not only to hospitals and nursing homes but also to the environment. With no adequate practices to dispose bio-medical waste in government hospitals, these hospitals have opted to outsource their waste management work.

“Many government hospitals outsource the medical waste management work to another company. However, allegations have been mounted against the outsourcing company for its inappropriate management of bio-medical waste in the hospitals” shared a doctor.

Speaking about the issue, Pollution Control Board (PCB) official said, “The conditions in government hospitals are appalling. There are several lapses in handling the hospital wastes especially in the segregation procedure of biomedical wastes. At present, through Common Treatment facility, GJ Multiclave (India) Pvt. Limited (the outsourcing company) looks into the disposal of biomedical wastes in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda and Mahaboobnagar districts”.

“There are almost 10 types of biomedical wastes which are divided mainly into three categories as solids, liquids and anatomy wastes. These have to be segregated using correct segregation and cleansing procedures which are not carried out properly in many government hospitals,” he added.

“Few hospital nurses are also trained to safely dispose medical waste. However, irregularity and lack of proper monitoring system prolong the problem,” said a doctor who works with Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.

When contacted Robert, the concerned official from GJ Multiclave (India) Pvt. Limited, he condemned all such allegations. “Our work is applauded by Pollution Control Board. We look into bio-medical management perfectly, exactly according to the Act. If criticism is raised, it is not our fault. Some hospitals do not carry out proper segregation procedures in respect to colour coding. It hampers the whole activity of disposal of biomedical waste,” he clarified.

“We have a life time contract. For every two and half years, we have to revive our contract by reviewing the situation with Pollution Control Board,” e added. There are 13 Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBMWTFs) in operation in the State. Some biomedical wastes are not biodegradable. Both private and government hospitals should be careful while draining them out. There is a great need for the construction of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) in the hospitals for safe disposal of liquid waste generated in the hospitals. Biomedical waste should be disposed in the safest manner to avoid causing danger to environment which will in turn affect the health of the people.

“The Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) involves incinerator, autoclave, shredder and Effluent Treatment Plant. Incinerator is used for destruction of human anatomical and animal waste; microbiology culture waste, soiled waste etc. Autoclave is used for disinfecting and treating biomedical waste; shredder for shredding or mutilation of plastic waste to prevent unauthorised reuse. And finally Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) is used to treat the liquid waste generated due to washing of vehicles, containers, etc,” informed Robert.

Doctors speak

“The problem of bio-medical waste disposal in the hospitals and other healthcare establishments has become an issue of increasing concern, prompting hospital administration to seek new ways of scientific, safe and cost effective management of the waste,” said Dr Praveen Kumar Saxena, Toxicologist.

“The biomedical waste scattered in and around the hospitals invites flies, insects, rodents, cats and dogs that are responsible for the spread of communicable disease like plague and rabies. Rag pickers in the hospital, sorting out the garbage are at a risk of getting tetanus and HIV infections.

The recycling of disposable syringes, needles, IV sets and other article like glass bottles without proper sterilisation are responsible for Hepatitis, HIV, and other viral diseases. It becomes primary responsibility of health administrators to manage hospital waste in most safe and eco-friendly manner,”” he further added.