Hospital waste dumped openly on road
Used syringes, drips, blood-soaked swabs and other hospital waste is lying outside the Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Sindh Government Hospital (SGH) Liaqatabad staff is disposing of hospital waste on nearby streets creating a health hazard for the local community and putting a big question mark on the tall claims of the Sindh government about providing international standard medical facilities.
SGH Liaqatabad Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Salman said they were short of resources to the extent that there was no staff at the information desk for a long time.
Dr Salman said the hospital does not have an incinerator facility so medical waste is sent to the District Health Office (DHO). However, a walk around the health facility reveals that medical waste is not being disposed of regularly.
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During a survey by The Express Tribune, it was observed that used syringes, drips and injections as well as blood-stained cotton and gauze used during the treatment by doctors and paramedics were being dumped in the gallery attached to the hospital corridor which negates the idea of infection-free environment in the hospital.
Drug addicts were seen picking up used syringes for injecting narcotics openly on streets around the health facility. Reuse of disposed of syringes by drug addicts can cause an increase in the number of people infected with hepatitis, HIV and AIDS.
The Express team observed that the SGH Liaquatabad was in a dilapidated condition. Even the hospital authorities were not giving any attention to the sanitation system.
There was also a shortage of medicines and patients are forced to buy medicines from outside. SGH Liaquatabad Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Ayub Babar refused to comment.