Disposal of biomedical waste: 85 Gurgaon hospitals put on notice

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, July 2

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has issued notices to around 85 hospitals, including the government-run General Hospital in Sector 10, for neither applying for authorization to dispose of biomedical waste (BMW) nor following disposal norms.

While the General Hospital was served a show-cause notice, the others, including big hospitals and renowned clinics, have been served final notices for ignoring norms despite repeated reminders.

As per norms while healthcare establishments (HCEs) are responsible for segregation of waste, it is mandatory for them to have an agreement with authorised service providers that collect biomedical waste and dispose it of legally.

Hospitals and clinics have to maintain four colour-coded dustbins— blue, red, black and yellow. Collected waste is not expected to be stored in dustbins for more than 24 hours and only authorised service providers are permitted to collect and dispose it of.

All hospitals and clinics with or without indoor wards are mandated to get the authorisation for disposing of biomedical waste renewed every three years as this is the only way to keep a tab on segregation, collection and disposal of waste.

While the authorisation of many hospitals in the list expired last year, Dr Jai Bhagwan, Medical Superintendent, General Hospital, said: “ We have been authorised by the board and have relevant documents to prove it. I think there is some confusion because of the recent transfer of board officials.”