Pakistan

Waste disposal: Polyclinic to get furnace in 45 days, minister assures NA

Junior minister admits that the old incinerator in Polyclinic has been out of order since 2013.

APP May 16, 2014 Less than a minute read

A file photo of hospital waste. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD:

State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed Thursday informed the National Assembly that a new furnace would be installed at Polyclinic within 45 days for the disposal of hospital waste.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by MNA Rida Khan regarding non-existence/adoption of proper procedure for the disposal of waste in government and private hospitals, the junior minister admitted that the old incinerator in Polyclinic has been out of order since 2013.

He said there were three major state-run hospitals in the capital --- Polyclinic, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM).

Of which, NIRM had its own furnace while the waste of PIMS and Polyclinic was being sent to Morgah for disposal.

“Shifa International Hospital and other private hospitals also have their own incinerators to burn the waste material,” Aftab added.

He said the installation of a new incinerator at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in the upcoming fiscal year was also under consideration.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2014.