21 Chennai hospitals in the dock for violating waste disposal rules

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Pollution Control Board to take action against them.

August 21, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 07:47 am IST - CHENNAI:

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Southern Bench here has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to initiate immediate action, including launching of prosecution, against 21 hospitals after the board found that these hospitals had “committed gross violations” of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.

According to the report of the TNPCB, 21 hospitals are maintaining records that do not tally with the quantum of waste maintained. The hospitals are, Apollo Hospitals in Tondiarpet, the Government Peripheral Hospital in Tondiarpet, Madras ENT Research Foundation Pvt. Ltd. in R.A. Puram and Brain & Spine Hospital in T. Nagar, Sooriya Hospital in Saligramam, Rajan Eye Care Hospital in T. Nagar, Cancer Institute (WIA) on Sardar Patel Road and on East Canal Road, Dr. Ramachandran Diabetes Care (P) Ltd in Guindy, RG Stone Urology & Laparascopy Hospital in Saidapet, Billroth Hospitals in Shenoy Nagar and in R.A. Puram, Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. in McNichols Road, Lister Metropolis Lab Research Centre Ltd, Institute of Social Obsetrics and Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital For Women and Children and General Hospital in Triplicane, Voluntary Health Services in Taramani and Chennai Meenakshi Multi Speciality Hospital Ltd. in Mylapore. Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital on Cathedral Road, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd. in Alwarpet and Prashant Fertility Research Centre were also on the list.

‘Selling waste’

The Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao also impleaded Kanchi Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital in Nungambakkam in the case after it was found that one of the hospitals was selling its biomedical waste to an unauthorised outsider for Rs. 49 per kg, instead of incurring Rs. 39 per kg as expense and disposing it of through the common treatment facility.

Though the case was earlier entrusted to the CB-CID, the investigating agency said it would submit its report during the next hearing of the case. Pointing out that it was “alarming” to note that even government institutions like Stanley Hospital did not have their own sewage treatment plants (STP), the Bench directed the TNPCB to initiate action in this regard and see that an STP was installed in all the government hospitals at the earliest.

The Health Secretary was also directed to supply sufficient number of disposable medical equipment to government hospitals immediately so as to ensure that disposable items are not used again. The Bench also directed the Health Secretary to file a status report.

As for its member hospitals, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) was directed to conduct programmes to create awareness on the importance of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, and on the necessity of obtaining ‘Consent’ as per the provisions of the above Rules.

“We also make it clear that in the event of any of the members of the IMA disobeying its directions, the association shall take appropriate steps against those erring hospitals, even removing them from its membership,” the Bench said.

It directed the State government to inform it as to what action has been initiated after the new rules were notified in April. The case was posted for September 14.

Applicant Jawaharlal Shanmugam had claimed that several hospitals have been disposing of biomedical waste in a manner violating the rules.

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Pollution Control Board to take action against them

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