Delhi govt makes hospitals aware about Biomedical waste disposal.

• Delhi govt makes hospitals aware about Biomedical waste disposal.

Delhi government on Wednesday conducted a workshop on “compliance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016”.  Organized by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), it was inaugurated by Environment Minister Mr Imran Hussain.

Representatives from hospitals having capacity of more than 100 beds were invited to attend the workshop to apprise the participants about important aspects of the new Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1998 have been superseded by the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 w.e.f 28.3.2016. All persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle Biomedical Waste (BMW) in any form including Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics, Dispensaries, Veterinary Institutions, Animal Houses, Pathological Laboratories, Blood Banks, Ayush Hospitals, Clinical Establishments, Research or Educational Institutions, Health Camps, Medical or Surgical Camps, Vaccination Camps, Blood Donation Camps, First Aid Rooms of Schools, Forensic Laboratories and Research Labs, irrespective of their size/ number of patients/ the quantity of BMW generation, are liable to apply and obtain authorization from DPCC.

Some of the salient features of the new Rules are as under:-

·                Health Care Facilities (HCFs) shall ensure recovery of resource(s) followed by segregation of liquid chemical waste at source and ensure pre-treatment or neutralization prior to mixing with other effluents generated from health care facilities.

·                Laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags shall be pre-treated through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by WHO or NACO.

·  HCFs shall ensure proper record keeping as per provisions of the Rules.

· Every occupier has been made liable to segregate its waste in to various categories as per the Schedule-I of the Rules.

· Every occupier has been bound to have an isolated storage site in its premises with different compartments for different categories of waste as per color coded bags.

· Every occupier will have to ensure protective gears/equipment for the staff handling with Biomedical Waste.

· All HCFs shall ensure that entire Biomedical Waste(s) is handed over to Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility as per the agreement between them.

· One-time registration with DPCC along with a fee of Rs.5000/- towards Authorisationfor non-bedded HCFs.

· Registration of Delhi Medical Council (DMC) is a pre-requisite for all the doctors/clinics while applying for authorization in Form II.

· All the HCFs shall have to display the authorization, issued by DPCC, at a prominent place in its premises so that general public can view and satisfy themselves.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister observed that Biomedical waste comprises of human and animal anatomical waste, treatment apparatus likeneedles, syringes and other materials used in the process of treatment and research.  This waste is generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunisation in various kinds of health care facilities.

It was also observed that though entire Biomedical Waste is not hazardous but due to lack of segregation of the hazardous and non-hazardous waste, it tends to make the entire waste hazardous which is not desirable for public health and environment.

Mr Hussain emphasized the need for scientific disposal of Biomedical Waste as per the new norms, through segregation, collection and treatment in an environmentally sound mannerso that adverse impact on health workers and on the environment could be reduced to a great extent.

The Minister expressed the confidence that the new Biomedical Waste management rules will change the way, various health care facilities will handle the bio-medical waste. All the participants were requested to actively participate in the deliberations to gain complete knowledge about the rules for handling Biomedical Wasteand implementing them at their respective facilities in true letter and spirit.