Environment Secretary expresses dissatisfaction with the disposal of hospital waster and lack of incinerators. DESIGN: AMNA IQBAL
Many hospitals and clinics are disposing of their hazardous waste in violation of the Waste Management Rules, 2005, Environment Secretary Muhammad Anwar Rasheed said on Monday.
He was presiding over a meeting at the commissioner’s office.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the disposal of hospital waster and lack of incinerators, Rasheed said that the officials concerned had been instructed to take strict action against the hospitals and clinics who violated the law.
He said cases against several hospitals and clinical laboratories were pending at the Environmental Tribunal. Some laboratories, he said, had also been sealed.
He urged the officials concerned to make more frequent inspections at the hospitals and refer suitable cases to the court without any delay.
He said there was a need for setting up district committees including health and environment officers to monitor waste disposal by hospitals and clinics.
He suggested that a government hospital in each district should be made a model hospital to lead the way.
Commissioner Tahir Hussain said that various steps had been taken to control environmental pollution. A comprehensive strategy, he said, would be undertaken to achieve better results. He said the district administration was planning to launch an awareness campaign regarding disposal of medical waste.
District Officer (Environment) Mian Muhammad Nawaz said that eight incinerators were in working order at hospitals in the city. More than 5,000 kilograms of medical waste was being burnt daily, he said. However, thousands of kilograms of waste was still not disposed of properly, he added.
The secretary also reviewed arrangements for the anti-dengue campaign. He was informed that the campaign had already been started at schools and colleges. Four executive district officers (Health) from Faisalabad region briefed the secretary about the measures taken to control dengue mosquito breeding.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2013.
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There should be options for hospitals to which they must be required to subscribe to. Make it mandatory for hospitals to work with Lahore Waste Management Company. Don't just fine them, give them options!