Hospital waste: Toxic trash causing aggressive ailments

Hospitals in Pakistan do not have waste management systems and are yet to implement relevant laws.

ISLAMABAD: Hospital waste in Pakistan is not disposed of properly. The hospitals do not have waste management systems and are yet to implement relevant laws.

This was said by Dr Jamal Nasir, the focal person of the Environment Health Unit of National Institute of Health, at a five-day training workshop here on Wednesday.

The hospitals do not keep any records of waste disposal and collection nor are there any committees to overlook efficient waste disposal.

A recent study conducted by a non-governmental organisation revealed that the country produces 80,000 tonnes of solid waste daily. Hospital waste is about 20 per cent of this, said Dr Jamal.

“But when hospital waste is thrown or dumped with municipal waste, it contaminates the entire lot,” he added.

He said studies show that around 2 kilograms of waste per hospital bed is produced daily. About 0.5 per cent of this waste is “risky”. This risky waste is the cause of a number of diseases.

The prevalence of Hepatitis B (3-4 per cent or 6 million) and Hepatitis C (5 per cent of 7.5 million) can be reduced if the waste is properly disposed.

Dr Jamal said waste materials are collected by sweepers who are not given any guidance or training on handling different types of waste. No protective clothing is provided to them.

He said that the Hospital Waste Management Rules 2005, recently notified, need to be implemented in all hospitals through the formation of advisory committees and hospital waste management teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2011.