Hospitals flouting biomedical waste rules on Telangana's radar

Hyderabad: The state government has taken a serious note on the non-implementation of the biomedical waste management rules by healthcare facilities, including government hospitals like NIMS, Osmania and Gandhi hospital. Interestingly, only a 10 per cent of hospitals in the state are following the rules on biomedical waste management. 

The government has asked the health and family welfare department to ensure implementation of the rules and the Pollution Control Board (PCB) has been directed to initiate regulatory actions against the violators. 

As per new rules, all healthcare facilities, including non-bedded clinics, have to obtain the authorisation by the board. The government said that the segregation of biomedical waste as per the colour code is not practised by the state-run hospitals. District medial officers have been asked to look into this. 

At a recent review meeting, the special secretary in environment department said that biomedical waste management at NIMS, Osmania and Gandhi hospitals were below the standard. During the special secretary’s inspection, it was observed that only 10 per cent of healthcare facilities are following the norms on biomedical waste management in the state. The special secretary also called for the need to segregate biomedical waste. 

According to the government, the PCB will initiate action against violators based on the feedback from the district medical officers. The government has the directed district medical officials to conduct more inspections and pass on the information to the PCB. The government has directed officials to set up district-level monitoring committees under the chairmanship of collectors.