Bio-medical waste: Hospitals flouting disposal norms face action
So far, around 300 medical establishments have been identified and notices are in the process of being sent, said Dilip Khedkar, regional officer, MPCB.
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A bio-medical waste collection vehicle
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has initiated action against erring hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and pathology labs in the city which do not comply with disposal rules for bio-medical waste. The regional office of the MPCB in Mumbai is in the process of preparing a list of hospitals which have not registered with the sole bio-medical waste plant in the city.
So far, around 300 medical establishments have been identified and notices are in the process of being sent, said Dilip Khedkar, regional officer, MPCB.
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“We are verifying registrations of hospitals, clinics and pathology labs. Those not disposing of bio-medical waste as per rules are being sent show-cause notices.
If they do not comply despite the notice, criminal action can be initiated against them,” Khedkar said.
He added that notices are in the process of being sent to doctors or administration, whoever is in-charge under the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules. Bio-medical waste which includes discarded blood, used bandages, body parts and other human or animal tissue, can be an environmental concern for its bio-hazardous nature and could spread infectious diseases if not disposed of properly.
The city currently has one bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility, SMS Envoclean. The facility has staff assigned with collecting bio-medical waste from medical establishments in the city and bringing them for disposal and treatment to the Deonar plant. Each hospital while seeking licence from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has to submit the application made by them before the MPCB with the assurance of complying with rules to dispose of bio-medical waste. Apart from an authorisation from the MPCB, the medical establishments have to register with SMS Envoclean for daily collection and transportation of medical waste.
“The entire system has been streamlined with the BMC not allowing applications for opening a medical facility without clearance from MPCB. If any are found to be erring, action has to be taken against them,” said Dr Sudhir Naik, president, Association of Medical Consultants. Explaining the process, he said each medical facility pays authorisation fees to the MPCB which is renewed every three years.
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