Kangra Private Clinics Flout Waste Disposal Norms

In the absence of a proper system, safe handling of medical and biomedical waste by private clinics in rural areas of Kangra has become a matter of concern.

The state government has failed to initiate steps to

dispose of the waste generated from such clinics,

posing a major environmental and health hazard.

With no waste treatment plant in the district, the liquid waste from such institutions finds its way into drains, which flows into streams, and the solid waste is disposed of in municipal dumps.

A field visit by The Tribune revealed that major government and private health institutions in the district have tied up with private companies in Punjab and Kangra for collection and disposal of medical waste at their level. However, small clinics and hospitals in rural areas have failed to make any arrangement and dump the waste in water bodies and vacant land in gross violation of the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.

Though notifications have been issued to the states to control the generation and handling of biological and medical waste, no steps have been taken on ground.

Dr Vinay Mahajan, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Palampur, said: “Disposal of bio-medical waste has been outsourced to a Kangra-based private company, Suraksha Bio Tech. All government hospitals have signed individual agreements with this agency for safe handling and disposal of waste. Likewise, major private hospitals and nursing homes have also tied up with it. The Health Department keeps a check on the proper disposal of medical waste.” – Tribune India