The Hindu, Mangaluru Updated: May 15, 2016 05:45 IST
Chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Lakshman has found lapses in the disposal of bio-medical waste in four private hospitals and Government Wenlock Hospital here. All the five hospitals have been asked to address the lapses in the next few days.
Mr. Lakshman’s visit to hospitals in the city follows similar exercise done by the board officials in Bengaluru. The board has been inspecting hospitals to check compliance to Bio-Medical Waste Rules.
Mr. Lakshman visited A.J. Hospital and Research Centre, Yenepoya Medical College and Hospital, Father Muller Medical College and Hospital, Kastruba Medical College and Hospital and the Government Wenlock Hospital on Monday and Tuesday.
According to a press release from the board on Saturday, Mr. Lakshman found that A.J. Hospital had gone ahead with increasing its bed strength without obtaining prior consent and approval of the board.
The hospital does not have proper system of treating liquid bio-medical waste. The cleanliness at the common bio-medical waste collection centre of the hospital was not satisfactory, the release said.
At the Yenepoya Medical College, Mr. Lakshman found that the IV plastic bottles and other bio-medical waste were being given to scrap dealer for disposal rather than being handed over to the common bio-medical waste treatment facility. This hospital too did not have proper system to treat the liquid bio-medical waste.
Father Muller Medical College and Hospital was storing I V plastic bottles and other bio-medical plastic in an open area outside the common bio-medical waste storage room.
Kasturba Medical College and Hospital at the Ambedkar Circle did not have proper system of treating liquid bio-medical waste and this was being directly discharged to the underground drainage system. The sewage treatment plant at the Government Wenlock Hospital was not working and the untreated sewage was being let into the underground drainage system.
Notices were issued on the spot to all the hospitals. They have been asked to correct lapses with a prescribed time. Mr. Lakshman directed KSPCB officials to conduct programmes at hospitals to create awareness about the new Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, the official release said.
Board has been inspecting hospitals to check compliance to Bio-Medical Waste Rules
