Dna Indida, New Delhi Thursday, 31 December 2015 – 9:50am IST
A new bio-medical waste unit being constructed at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash(LNJP) Hospital in New Delhi may pose serious health risks to the staff and public, but the hospital authority seems unbothered about it.
According to sources, the bio-medical waste unit is being constructed behind the OPD block, right next to the operation theatre (OT). If this unit becomes operational, the infectious fumes may reach pharmacy and paediatrics department. This may lead to spreading of contagious diseases in the hospital.
Expressing objection to the construction of this unit, a staff in the pharmacy department on the condition of anonymity said, “Bio-medical waste includes flesh and blood of humans. Separation of these wastes near these wards will be harmful for the public.”
According to Dr Neet Kumar from Indian Council of Medical Research, different types of harmful bacteria and strains are released from the treatment of disposal of bio-medical wastes. “While setting up a bio-medical waste treatment plant, hospital authorities should keep in mind to keep this away from the OT, OPD, pharmacy departments. The gases released from the treatment are harmful to human health,” she said.
When iamin contacted the additional Medical Superintendent of LNJP hospital about the construction, he said he doesn’t know what is being built and passed the buck to the PWD.
