The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Proper disposal of bio-medical waste stressed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Proper disposal of bio-medical waste stressed

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Most healthcare establishments, including some major hospitals and clinics in the city, do not segregate the bio-medical waste generated on their premises, and even if segregation is done, they are not bothered about proper disposal. Several times they hand over the general waste to vehicles transporting bio-medical waste to the BBMP lorries.

These are some of the challenges faced by organisations that run common facilities for scientific disposal of waste generated in the city’s healthcare establishments.

These issues were pointed out by M.A. Srinath, vice-president of Maridi Eco Industries (an organisation that runs the common bio-medial waste disposal facility on Kanakapura Road) at a workshop on “Bio-Medical Waste Management in Indian Hospitals,” organised by the Institute of Clinical Research (ICRI) here on Saturday.

Mr. Srinath said segregation was the greatest challenge faced by industry.

Colour-coding rule

“It is unfortunate that most hospitals do not bother to strictly follow the colour-coding rule required for disposal of bio-medical waste. They dump glass pieces and plastic in bags meant for infectious waste. If segregation is not done at source, it can never be done later,” he said.

Selwyn Colaco, Chief Operating Officer (COO ) of Narayana Hrudyalaya, spoke on the bio-medical waste management scenario in Indian hospitals.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka