To ensure scientific management of bio-medical waste, the Punjab Government will use the “barcode system” in all Government and private hospitals across the State.
“Considering the bio-medical waste as the most hazardous and infectious, bar code system has been implemented thoroughly,” said State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu.
“Tracking GPS systems have also been installed in vehicles which carries the waste to Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTF). This mechanism is proving a milestone to save the environment of Punjab and prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as Covid-19 and Hepatitis among the populations,” he said.
The Health Minister said dedicated State advisory committee and District Level monitoring committees are constituted in all the districts as per the guidelines. “Regular meetings are being conducted to ensure the scientifically management of bio-medical waste across the State,” he added.
All CBWTF operators are directed to ensure regular and timely collection of bio-medical waste using bar-code software from all healthcare facilities in accordance with the provisions of the BMWM Rules, 2016 (amendments 2018 and 2019).
Sidhu added the Health and Family Welfare Department has upload all the details or reports of daily bio-medical waste generation on the software, whereby all the record of waste pick up from each hospital is recorded. No waste is being dumped under-ground in the hospitals or elsewhere, he said.
The Minister said that liquid waste pre-treatment plant, Effluent treatment plant (ETP), or Sewage treatment plant (STP) were planned and being installed in all district hospitals and sub-divisional hospital by Punjab Health System Corporation, whereas for Community Health Centres, it is in the pipeline.
The smaller health facilities like sub-centres are connected to the nearby hospitals for bio-medical waste disposal, said the Minister adding that all hospitals, even the smaller ones, are now connected with the CBWTF for disposal of biomedical waste.