Plastic waste plagues city hospital

Even as the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), associated with the Government Medical College, has outsourced the cleanliness work to a private agency, plastic waste can still be seen littered in open areas of the health facility.

The hospital collects the waste near its outer wall along Majitha Road, from where it is picked up by garbage collection teams of the Municipal Corporation after two or three days.

The 1,500-bed health facility is visited by over 10,000 people daily. A doctor at the hospital stated, “Over 95% of the waste generated here is in the form of plastic bags. If the government ban on plastic is implemented strictly, the problem of garbage can be solved to a great extent not only in the hospital but in the entire city as well.”

The hospital administration encourages patients to use paper bags instead of polythene bags for medicines. A visit to the hospital revealed that open spaces along the patient wards are littered with garbage, mostly plastic bags. Hospital employees say the visitors are not sensitive to the issue and often throw the waste in the open instead of using dustbins.

Stray dog menace

The hospital is also grappling with the issue of a growing population of stray dogs. Dogs can be seen rummaging through the heaps of garbage. The visitors have also expressed their concerns over the threat from stray dogs to public safety.

The GNDH is a clinical institute of Government Medical College (GMC). The GMC premises, too, can be seen littered with waste. Heaps of garbage can be dumped in a park near the Girls’ Hostel.

GNDH Medical Superintendent Dr Karamjit Singh stated, “The agency entrusted with cleanliness work has deployed 166 workers and at least 40 more are expected to join shortly. We will address any shortcomings soon.”

Regarding the stray dog problem, he said, “We have written to the Municipal Corporation multiple times. Even after the dogs are removed from the hospital premises, they sneak in through gates.” He emphasised that the MC should take concrete steps to control the stray dog population.