Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 30: Painting a gloomy picture vis-à-vis management and disposal of bio-medical and other wastes in the Government and private hospitals, a six member committee constituted by the Government has arrived at a conclusion that laid down rules are being thrown into winds in majority of the health institutions right from segregation of waste at source to its final disposal. The panel has recommended slew of measures to the Government so that situation is brought under control before it leads to grave health hazard.
The six-member committee was constituted by the Government on October 10, 2012 to look into the grave issue and decide the management and disposal of the hospital/other wastes in a comprehensive manner.
During detailed exercise spread over nearly three months, the committee observed that the hospital waste is not segregated at source of generation in the colored bins/bags as recommended under the rules, sources in Health and Medical Education Department told EXCELSIOR.
“During inspection of various health institutions the facilities for segregation, collection of needles, syringes and sharps were found absent. Where ever the facilities (needle destroying units) were available these were either semi functional or non functional as a result of which needles and syringes were seen mixed in general waste”, sources said, adding “the disposable items like drip sets, blood transfusion sets, catheters, royal tubes and drains were also found collected in the general waste without treatment and mutilation”.
Sources said, “the committee has observed that the waste generated in the hospitals after being collected from various patient care areas is being dumped either in open or in covered areas with access to rag pickers and animals”, adding “proper facilities for storage of waste after collection were not found in the health care institutions. Moreover, the covered wheel barrows / trolley for transportation of waste within the hospitals from various sections for its storage in dumping site were also not available in majority of the hospitals”.
The committee, according to the sources, also found burning of bio-medical and general waste in trolleys or in the pits within the hospital premises. “Some of the institutions visited by the team had tie up for final disposal of the bio-medical waste with the private organization, which is running Common Bio-Medical Treatment facility at Pangoli near Pathankot. However, at the time of inspection the unit was not operational. Even the functioning of STP was doubtful”, sources said.
“What to talk of other hospitals, the situation vis-à-vis disposal of bio-medical waste in Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu is also not as per the rules. There is one incinerator for disposal of bio-medical waste in Associated Hospital of GMC while as second one is being installed at SMGS Hospital”, sources said, adding “the STP at Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu was found non functional during the inspection by the committee members. No area was found earmarked for storage of bio-medical waste, which is to be incinerated. Even separate storage area for incinerator ash was not provided”.
When asked, sources said, “it is a fact that all the medical professional are not aware of Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules”, adding “each and every hospital must have well planned awareness and training programme for all categories of personnel including administrators to make them aware about safe hospital waste management practices”.
The Committee, according to the sources, has recommended slew of measures so that situation is brought under control before it leads to grave health hazard.
It has recommended segregation of waste at the site of generation—all patient care activity areas, diagnostic services areas, operation theatres, labour rooms and treatment rooms. “The responsibility of segregation should be with the generator of bio-medical waste–Doctors, Nurses and Technicians and waste should be segregated as per categories applicable”, the committee said.
As far as storage of waste is concerned, the Committee has recommended that no untreated bio-medical waste should be kept stored beyond a period of 48 hours. Separate time schedules should be prepared for transportation of bio-medical waste and general waste as it will reduce chances of mix up.
The head of every hospital should form a Waste Management Committee, which will meet regularly to review the performance of the waste disposal. This Committee should be responsible for making hospital specific action plan for hospital waste management and for its supervision, monitoring implementation and looking after the safety of the bio-medical waste handlers, the panel said.
“There is requirement of setting up of Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facilities one each at Jammu and Kashmir Divisions to cater to the institutions. In Jammu region an incinerator and heavy duty shredder should be provided at District Hospital Rajouri which could cater to the need of district Poonch also. Similarly one incinerator and heavy duty shredder should be provided to District Hospital Doda for catering to the needs of health institution falling in Doda and Kishtwar districts”, the Committee has recommended.
The districts of Leh and Kargil should have their own incinerator and heavy duty shredders for final disposal of bio-medical waste.
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