Biomedical waste being dumped in the open at Rajindra Hospital

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 20

Rajindra Hospital, the largest public sector health institute in Patiala, lacks a proper system to dispose  of biomedical waste. 

Medical waste could be found dumped in an open area near the ward No. 6 and 7, which poses a serious health risk to the patients, their attendants and hospital staff.

Health institutions throughout the state continue to violate the biomedical waste management laws with impunity. The authorities as a result have been found disposing biomedical waste along with general waste. 

Moreover, corridors leading to the ward no. 6, Emergency ward and the OPD building cartons of discarded and expired medicines present a bleak picture. According to medical experts, biomedical waste could trigger life-threatening diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis, AIDS and various serious ailments.

 Sanitation workers, who handle the hazardous waste, live in a fear of being infected. The Central government from time to time has issued guidelines regarding the disposing of the biomedical waste.

The stench coming from washrooms of the hospital makes it difficult to pass through corridors. It seems that broken urinals, leaking taps, shattered doors and germ-infested interiors have become a trademark of Rajindra Hospital. 

Medical Superintendent BS Brar said, “Someone is trying to tarnish the image of the hospital. I will immediately tell the concerned person to clear up the mess. Strict action will be taken against the guilty.”