Inaugurating a workshop on "compliance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016" organised by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Environment Minister Imran Hussain said biomedical waste comprises human and animal anatomical waste, treatment apparatus like needles, syringes and other materials used in the process of treatment and research.
"This waste is generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunisation in various kinds of health care facilities. It was also observed that though entire biomedical waste is not hazardous, but due to lack of segregation of the hazardous and non-hazardous waste, it tends to make the entire waste hazardous, which is not desirable for public health and environment," said Hussain and emphasised on the need for scientific disposal of biomedical waste as per the new norms, through segregation, collection and treatment in an environmentally-sound manner "so that adverse impact on health workers and on the environment could be reduced to a great extent."
The Minister expressed confidence over the new biomedical waste management rules that "will change the way, various health care facilities will handle the bio-medical waste."
Representatives from hospitals having capacity of more than 100 beds were invited to attend the workshop to apprise the participants about important aspects of the new Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Some of the salient features of the new Rules include "Health Care Facilities (HCFs) shall ensure recovery of resource(s) followed by segregation of liquid chemical waste at source and ensure pre-treatment or neutralisation prior to mixing with other effluents generated from health care facilities. laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags shall be pre-treated through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by WHO or NACO."
HCFs shall ensure proper record keeping as per provisions of the rules and every occupier has been made liable to segregate its waste in to various categories like one has been "bound to have an isolated storage site in its premises with different compartments" for different categories of waste as per colour- coded bags.
"Every occupier will have to ensure protective gears/equipment for the staff handling with biomedical waste. All HCFs shall ensure that entire biomedical waste(s) is handed over to Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility as per the agreement between them."
It is a must to have one-time registration with DPCC along with a fee of Rs5,000 towards authorisation for non-bedded HCFs besides registration of Delhi Medical Council (DMC) is a pre-requisite for all the doctors and clinics while applying for authorisation in Form II.
"All the HCFs shall have to display the authorisation, issued by DPCC, at a prominent place in its premises so that general public can view and satisfy themselves. "
All the participants were requested to actively participate in the deliberations to gain complete knowledge about the rules for handling biomedical waste and implementing them at their respective facilities in true letter and spirit.