PIMS embroiled in fresh waste handling controversy

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) – the federal capital’s largest government hospitala - is faced with a fresh round of controversy over the unsafe handling of its medical waste weeks after a similar controversy that resulted in the suspension of three employees.

Sources have revealed that a large amount of medical waste from the hospital is being dumped in a hazardous manner outside a government girls' school in Sector G-7.

A video of a trolley loaded with medical waste being unloaded outside the school first surfaced on social media in which the waste could be seen originating from the PIMS Hospital, ending up at an unauthorised place.

Sources said that the illegal activity is taking place with the connivance of higher authorities.

The sources expressed concern over the potential hazard caused by the open dumping of medical waste. The waste is reportedly being transported to other locations for recycling.

This is not the first time PIMS has been embroiled in controversy over the handling of its medical waste.

Just a few weeks ago, three employees of the PIMS Hospital were suspended for selling medical waste, and the head of administration was given a clean chit in the case.

Experts say that medical waste should be disposed of properly so that it does not become a source of infection.

Unsafe handling of medical waste poses extreme hazards to human health and spreads diseases among humans, they said.

On the other hand, sources alleged that authorities concerned have done little to curb the practice.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2023.