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Biomedical waste generated by the PGI, GMCH-32 and other hospitals should be treated at source rather dumping at Dadu Majra dumping ground, which is filthy looking heap of mountain polluting the nearby residential area apart from creating smell for residents. All big hospitals should install biomedical incinerators. Ash produced by incinerators should be disposed of in low lying land fill area. Quality audit of incinerators should be carried out to ensure these are working as per hospital regulatory norms. Hospitals flouting the waste disposal rules should be penalised heavily. In fact, no biomedical waste should be allowed to disposed of without treatment at the source. It is therefore of paramount importance to accord top priority for biomedical waste to be effectively destroyed at the source in correct manner and should not pose any health hazards to public at large.
Col TBS Bedi (retd), Chandigarh
Separate plant for biomedical waste
Since the garbage treatment plant is already over stretched, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation should construct on top priority separate plant for disposal of biomedical waste, which contain hazardous particles. All private hospitals of Chandigarh should send their waste in covered vehicles to such plant on chargeable basis. The disposal/treatment of biomedical waste/garbage has become a burning issue. The Municipal Corporation authorities should act fast to solve this problem for once and all.
KC Rana, Chandigarh
Serious crime against society
The biomedical waste is most dangerous for health, sanitation and lives of the people. India has written laws to check environment pollution, but is also a careless nation to implement these laws. Despite specific rules and direction to dispose of dangerous biomedical waste, the UT hospitals like the PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 are disposing of their biomedical waste into general waste. As per rules, these hospitals have to treat biomedical waste on their premises and dispose it separately. Every one knows that highly toxic and dangerous waste is disposed of in general waste. Ragpickers search this waste to find plastic and polythene items and sell it for money. They get infected by dangerous biomedical waste and contract deadly diseases, which are further transmitted to innocent people. This is serious crime against society and mankind, which must be stopped forthwith. The authorities must make it mandatory for all hospitals both public and private to install plants to treat biomedical waste on their premises and further dispose it of separately. Biomedical must not be disposed of with general waste. It is be better if the UT Administration establishes a separate biomedical waste plant where all hospitals and path labs can dispose of their toxic waste. This plant will treat waste at one point rather than at hospitals in the city. Stringent punishment must be awarded to those, who violate and dispose of untreated garbage in general waste.
Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali
Fix responsibility for waste disposal
The responsibility for the improper disposal of hazardous biomedical waste, which poses threat to the public health, should be fixed on the Director, PGI, heads GMSH-16, GMCH-32 and the UT Health Department. They need to pull up their staff. A system provision is there, but the problem is slackness among officials in duty performance. A hefty fine and imprisonment should be awarded to heads of various hospitals for failing to inculcate performance discipline among their staff.
MPS Chadha, Mohali
Rules are never implemented
I fail to understand why the authorities of hospitals concerned in the tricity do not take action against person or contractor for not disposing of biomedical waste properly. In India it has been observed that rules are there, but these are seldom implemented in true letter and spirit. No improvement can be made till the authorities concerned take appropriate action when it comes to proper disposal of biomedical waste.
Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra
No one can put people’s lives at risk
It is really the height of carelessness on the part of reputed institutions like the PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 to let their hazardous biomedical waste mix into general waste and thereby put the lives of the people in the tricity to risk. It is really surprising that these institutions should themselves be the torch bearers for other small institutions, but they are themselves flouting the guidelines regarding safe disposal of biomedical waste with impunity. I am sure heads of these institutions are unaware of all these anomalies. So, it is the need of the hour that heads should wake up from their slumber and take a prompt and strict action against such misdeeds. Even the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation can show sternness at its own level. Such acts should be dealt with severity. Nobody should be given a free hand to put lives of the people to risk.
Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh
Violation of CPCC directives
The continuous dumping of biomedical and toxic waste, comprising blood and human tissues at the JayPee plant points towards nexus between agencies responsible for the waste disposal and the public health authorities. The directives of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) are being violated with impunity. The main culprits are the PGIMER, GMCH-32, GMSH-16, but secondary violators, including 788 health centres, smaller hospitals, clinics, diagnostic and veterinary establishments, are being overlooked. Over 10,000 kg of hospital waste is generated daily in totality of which nearly 25% is hazardous. This uncontrolled dumping of biomedical waste is leading to contamination of the non-hazardous waste, which over a period of time can leacheate and enter ground water. It further leads to accumulation of harmful microbes in human bodies. Besides, the magnitude of the problem can be gauged by the fact that vector-borne diseases have increased in the tricity due to conditions favourable to mosquito breeding. Solutions are simple. After segregating waste at source send biomedical waste to the industrial area treatment facility. Nodal officers from the three hospitals must be present in person to monitor the supply and disposal of waste at the JayPee plant. Penal action should be taken against the erroneous staff and censured and strictures passed against them, which may include, but not limited to, suspension, termination, freezing of salaries and heavy cash fines.
Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur
It shows lack of accountability
The disposal of biomedical waste from city hospitals, including the PGI, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 needs utmost care. Biomedical waste is collected in separate green, red and yellow dustbins at hospitals, but why it is mixed with other waste is a cause of serious concern. Lack of responsibility and accountability or the seriousness may be the reason of mixing biomedical waste with other waste. Medical waste must be ferried in separate vehicles to incinerators for disposal so that the problem of mixing can be ruled out. Biomedical waste can also be marked hospital wise so that responsibility can be fixed in case of mixing of waste at a later stage. Responsible officers may also be asked to give certificate for the biomedical waste from the place of collection. Treatment plants also need to be more careful while disposing of biomedical waste.
Wg Cdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali
Hospital Connivance not ruled out
It’s shocking that hazardous biomedical waste from government hospitals like the PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 is finding its way into general waste risking the public health in the tricity and flouting specific rules for the waste disposal. It is serious especially because institutions responsible for the public health are doing such heinous works. All this cannot be done without the connivance of the health institutions. Biomedical waste disposal has to be monitored by health institutions themselves by installing CCTVs at vulnerable places. There must be surprise checking by the Health Department authorities. If any violations are found then strict action must be initiated against the staff of the hospital concerned. Those responsible for the health should not be allowed to play with the environment. They must protect residents from health problems caused by hazardous biomedical waste. All health institutions in the tricity must be strictly instructed to follow rules regarding safe disposal of biomedical waste and violators be punished harshly. Residents, who come across any such violation, should bring it to the notice of the Health Department. Its duty of all health institutions, residents and NGOs combined to rise to the occasion and contribute towards safety of public from various diseases caused by hazardous biomedical waste. This will also help in making Chandigarh a smart city.
Rajender Kumar Garg, Zirakpur
Practice must be stopped
It has been noticed by the sanitation authorities that biomedical waste of the main hospitals – the PGIMER, the GMCH-32 and the GMSH-16 – is cunningly mixed with general waste deliberately ignoring it dangerous affects on the public health in the tricity. This absolutely harmful practice should be stopped forthwith. The general public must be protected from harmful gases, which biomedical waste generates during incineration. Biomedical waste should be segregated at the source and later disposed of as per the prescribed guidelines. Any violation of the guidelines should be viewed seriously and suitable action be taken against the defaulting hospital to discourage such unhealthy practice in the region. Strict surveillance should also be kept on disposal of biomedical waste at private hospitals and nursing homes, which provide advance medical services in the tricity.
Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali
Entrust disposal task to supervisors
It is really surprising that residents of the tricity are being subjected to serious health risk by the authorities at the PGI and other government hospitals by not adhering to the rules regarding disposal of biomedical waste. Who else would know more about its ill effects on residents other than the medical authorities. The government has repeatedly announced to take steps regarding public health care. So, the authorities of hospitals concerned should honor the government’s commitment and entrust disposal of biomedical waste to supervisors, who can get the job done while following the rules.
Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali
Punishment will serve no purpose
The three main hospitals in the city, which provide quality treatment for all ailments almost free, are over burdened with footfall of patients. Consequently, biomedical waste generation is enormous, which causes problem of disposal. Some of it is being disposed off in violation of the rules. Punishing officials of these reputed hospitals will hardly serve any purpose. This problem of plenty needs to be tackled by providing additional modern scientifically-operated incinerators preferably located within the hospitals and of needed capacity for taking load even from private hospitals. This will also eliminate risks of biomedical waste transportation.
DR Kapoor, Panchkula
Fix days for waste disposal
The rules are there for proper disposal of biomedical waste, but these lack enforcement. These rules must be followed in true spirit by all parties concerned, including hospitals and the Municipal Corporation (MC). The place for dumping biomedical waste should be earmarked. No one should be allowed to intrude into this area. The days for disposal of biomedical waste of different hospitals should be fixed. The whole process should be supervised by both the MC and hospital supervisors. Accountability should be fixed and stern action taken against defaulters. The staff deputed should be provided protective gear. They should be made aware about the benefits of such gear. The MC should have necessary machinery for the final disposal of biomedical waste.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh
Guidelines not followed by hospitals
Disposal of biomedical waste from hospitals into general waste is dangerous to the public health. There are specific rules for disposal of biomedical waste. Still guidelines are not followed by the authorities of hospitals concerned. The MC has issued a stern warning to all hospitals, including the PGI, not to send its biomedical waste to Dadu Majra plant failing which action will be taken. The authorities at the waste treatment plant have been asked to keep a close watch on trucks coming to off load garbage. A meeting should be held between authorities of all hospitals with officials of the garbage processing plant for better coordination. The Municipal Corporation (MC) must act strictly against violators.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
Dispose of medical waste as per procedure
It’s astonishing that biomedical waste generated at the GMSH, Sector 16, and GMCH, Sector 32, is disposed of in general waste creating a big threat to the health of the tricity residents. If government-run hospitals can’t follow standard procedures for disposing of medical waste then how we can expect private hospitals to abide by rules. Medical waste is disposed of by first making it safe through a sterilisation process. Waste that cannot be recycled, like gauze or needles, has to be sanitised and made non-hazardous before it is disposed of. This process is usually done by using an autoclave, a device that uses steam to sterilise equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores are inactivated at temperature so high and are deemed safe for recycling or disposal. This application is more common alternative to incineration due to environmental and health concerns. It is because of the combustion byproducts emitted by incinerators, especially from small units, which are commonly operated at individual hospitals. Incineration or a similar thermal oxidation process is still generally mandated for pathological waste and other very toxic and/or infectious medical waste. Generally medical waste is classified as healthcare waste that that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials and has the potential (left untreated) to harm humans, animals or the environment. The government authorities must take strict measures to ensure that medical waste is disposed of as per standard procedures.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Use coloured bins for segregation
Hazardous biomedical waste if not contained properly may result in transmitting harmful diseases to people, animals and affect the environment. The fluids should be collected in leak-proof containers, solidified for autoclave treatment and disposed of into the sewer system. Three coloured bins – blue for recyclable waste, brown for kitchen and garden waste and green for non-recyclable waste – must be used in all institutions and households. This will help solve the problem of waste segregation at source.
Harish Kapur, Chandigarh
Feedback system for hospitals
Hospitals will continue to dispose of their biomedical waste as long as we do not check and punish them. But before that, we got to have a proper system in place for disposal of biomedical waste. How and where waste generators should dispose it? Merge them in the system. Once that is clear, then ensure its compliance. Sanitary inspectors should carry out surprise checks and punish defaulters. If such action becomes a regular practice, then culprits must be reined. There must also be a weekly feedback system from every big hospital for giving details of biomedical waste produced and disposed of. Senior officials must not allow corruption to seep in. It is the reason for our falling standards and compromises with orders. The authorities should mean business.
Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt
Incineration is effective method
It is imperative that healthcare and medical institution waste handlers and community at large must ensure that it is treated, stored and disposed of accurately. If waste is not properly handled, it may run high risk of infections and become hazardous. Biomedical waste should be segregated from general waste, steamed and colour coded. Most effective method of waste management is incineration (process of treating waste thermally) by extreme temperature in controlled environment. Hospitals are aware of their duties of safe waste disposal. If they violate guidelines the matter should be brought into the notice of the authorities concerned and if found guilty their licence should be impounded and fine imposed for their negligence.
Charu Malhotra, Mohali
Segregate waste carefully
Hospital waste is generated during treatment, diganosis and immunisation of humans or animals. It can be segregated into general, pathological, sharp, infectious and chemical waste. Sanitation workers, hospital staff, patients and visitors are at risk of infection from infectious waste. All waste must be segregated in coloured bins, which should be cleaned and disfencted. The waste should not be stored at the generation source for more than six hours. It should be collected and transported for treatment under supervision. Biomedical waste can be incinerated, chemically treated or dumped at land fills constructed for the purpose. All hospitals in the tricity must follow biomedical waste diposal guidelines.
HS Gill, Chandigarh
"There should be a check on all hospitals, small medical clinics and laboratories in the city. Action should also be taken against officials concerned of the Municipal Corporation and other deparments concerned, who fail to ensure that biomedical waste does not come to the garbage processing plant."—Arun Sood, Councillor and Ex-Mayor
"Biomedical waste generated by hospitals like the PGIMER and the GMCH-32 finding its way into general waste is completely uncalled for. It is extremely dangerous for the public health. Strictest action as per law should be taken against these institutes for flouting safe disposal rules and example should be set."—Devinder Babla, Leader of opposition
We have taken this issue of disposal of biomedical waste into general waste very seriously and issued notice to hospitals concerned in this regard. Our staff is already deployed there to keep a check. We will ensure that in future there is no incident of disposal of biomedical waste at the garbage processing plant.?—Rajesh Kalia, Mayor
There should be a proper system for biomedical waste disposal. A dedicated department should ensure safe disposal of waste. Throwing biomedical waste anywhere one pleases will leave waste segregators or processors with infections. We talk of hi-tech system, but on the ground we act so irresponsibly."—Baljinder Bittu, president, Foswac
Biomedical waste is dangerous. It can harm those who segregate waste. Children who play near waste dumping ground can get hurt with a syringe or something sharp disposed of. It can lead to contraction of a disease. Those responsible should view it seriously. They must not allow mixing of medical waste with general waste."—Rakesh Kanojia, president, social walfare association, sector 24
QUESTION
A 21-year-old girl lost her life at zebra crossing on the road separating Sectors 21 and 34 when a speeding SUV driven by a woman hit her the other day. Rash driving is becoming a fashion among motorists in the tricity. It has put lives of others on roads in peril. What steps do you think should be taken to end this menace?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com