03-29-2024     3 رجب 1440

Biomedical Waste

September 19, 2022 |

It is disturbing to learn that authorities are sitting over a major health hazard in form of bio-medical waste generated from hospitals in Kashmir. The hazardous items in form of syringes, gauze, viles and all disposal material coming out of operation theatres deserve to be treated as per the highest disposal norms keeping in view the national and international mechanisms adopted to tackle such waste. However, in Kashmir, nothing seems to be moving ahead in terms of this major threat which sees inroads in garbage dumps where it is lifted by garbage collectors and others to sell as waste material. The other hospital waste is being thrown into rivers or lakes in the city which has been an issue of concern for environmentalists and conservationists. The genuine demand includes proper segregation and disposal of such hospital waste. Jammu and Kashmir must get new biomedical waste treatment facilities on a build, own, and operate (BOO) model which happens in all the major cities. A scientific methodology was needed to dispose of the biomedical waste from the health care intuitions in the eco-fragile valley. The practices of bio-medical waste management in Government Medical College and associated S.M.H.S. Hospital, Srinagar includes production, collection, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal technologies, and planning and infection control. There are nearly 750 beds, at S.M.H.S. Hospital and its associated hospitals with an annual OPD influx of more than 12 lakh patients and about 4,200 inpatients admitted annually. Each in-patient patient generates about two kg of waste generated per annum, approximately 650 tonnes. Every day BMW should be collected by in-service sanitation staff-collecting, carrying in plastic in waste-dumper of Municipality, The waste generated has to be segregated and either burnt in an incinerator or lifted by SMC for open dumping (or landfilling) as is not being done thus not fulfilling the requirements envisaged in Bio-Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board as notified Prescribed Authority should strictly see its implementation in Jammu & Kashmir. Though a bar code system has been established to help in accounting for the quantity of biomedical waste being collected, treated, and disposed of but in actual terms, the biomedical waste is not being treated as mandated under rules in Kashmir. The barcoding system helps only in obtaining information related to the collection of bio-medical waste and also provides latitude and longitude information but they are not updated or uploaded online on time. Also, the tracking system of the vehicles which carry the waste is not functional as per set norms and procedures.

Biomedical Waste

September 19, 2022 |

It is disturbing to learn that authorities are sitting over a major health hazard in form of bio-medical waste generated from hospitals in Kashmir. The hazardous items in form of syringes, gauze, viles and all disposal material coming out of operation theatres deserve to be treated as per the highest disposal norms keeping in view the national and international mechanisms adopted to tackle such waste. However, in Kashmir, nothing seems to be moving ahead in terms of this major threat which sees inroads in garbage dumps where it is lifted by garbage collectors and others to sell as waste material. The other hospital waste is being thrown into rivers or lakes in the city which has been an issue of concern for environmentalists and conservationists. The genuine demand includes proper segregation and disposal of such hospital waste. Jammu and Kashmir must get new biomedical waste treatment facilities on a build, own, and operate (BOO) model which happens in all the major cities. A scientific methodology was needed to dispose of the biomedical waste from the health care intuitions in the eco-fragile valley. The practices of bio-medical waste management in Government Medical College and associated S.M.H.S. Hospital, Srinagar includes production, collection, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal technologies, and planning and infection control. There are nearly 750 beds, at S.M.H.S. Hospital and its associated hospitals with an annual OPD influx of more than 12 lakh patients and about 4,200 inpatients admitted annually. Each in-patient patient generates about two kg of waste generated per annum, approximately 650 tonnes. Every day BMW should be collected by in-service sanitation staff-collecting, carrying in plastic in waste-dumper of Municipality, The waste generated has to be segregated and either burnt in an incinerator or lifted by SMC for open dumping (or landfilling) as is not being done thus not fulfilling the requirements envisaged in Bio-Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board as notified Prescribed Authority should strictly see its implementation in Jammu & Kashmir. Though a bar code system has been established to help in accounting for the quantity of biomedical waste being collected, treated, and disposed of but in actual terms, the biomedical waste is not being treated as mandated under rules in Kashmir. The barcoding system helps only in obtaining information related to the collection of bio-medical waste and also provides latitude and longitude information but they are not updated or uploaded online on time. Also, the tracking system of the vehicles which carry the waste is not functional as per set norms and procedures.


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Owner, Printer, Publisher, Editor: Farooq Ahmad Wani
Legal Advisor: M.J. Hubi
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