NALGONDA: Throwing the bio-medical (management and handling) rules to the winds, many hospitals in the district are dumping the waste that is generated during diagnosis and treatment in ordinary dustbins.

The negligence of hospital staff is posing serious health hazards to the general public. According to an official estimate, more than 3.5 tonnes of bio-medial waste is being generated in private and Government hospitals every day but most of it goes untreated.

Lack of system

While some doctors are burying the waste, some others are dumping it in municipal bins.

"There is no systematic disposal of the waste in the district. This is because of lack of proper awareness among the hospital managements," environmental engineer of the Pollution Control Board Rekula Ravinder Reddy told The Hindu .

Mr.Reddy, who won kudos for the strict implementation of waste disposal at Hyderabad, said that now is it is mandatory for all hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to obtain an authorization certificate from his office. The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Bio Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules on July 20, 1998, under the Environment (protection) Act, 1986.

As per the rules subsequently framed by the Government, every occupier and operator of bio-medical waste, which includes hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, medical colleges attached to hospitals, diagnostic centres, pathological labs, blood banks, veterinary institutions, animal houses etc., shall make an application in Form - I of these rules, along with the prescribed fee to the APPCB for considering the issuance of authorisation by August 3.

Workshop organised

"The BMW collected from Nalgonda district would be treated at a common private treatment facility at Mahabubnagar," Mr Reddy said.

The healthcare establishments have to pay Rs.3 per bed to the firm for collecting and processing the waste, he added. In an attempt to create awareness and impart training on BMW management and its handling, the PCB organised a workshop here on Friday.

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