Lahore: It has been revealed that plastic utensils, toys are made from hospital waste (medical waste). Experts have warned that the misuse of medical waste is proving dangerous for both human health and the environment.
In the markets of Lahore, colorful plastic utensils, toys and decorative items are commonly sold. Due to the low cost, many people buy these items, especially in small food stalls and hotels. are done.
Experts say that hospital waste includes both hazardous and harmless waste. Non-hazardous waste includes food, cardboard, packaging, food waste and similar items while hazardous waste includes glucose and urine bags, syringes, pathological, sharps, pharmaceutical waste, chemical and radioactive waste.
Apart from this, waste items such as bottles, boxes, gloves, masks, tubes used in handling expired medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals are also included.
According to the Environment Protection Department of Punjab, about 5.2 million people (including 4 million children) die every year from waste-related diseases. It is necessary.
In big government hospitals, waste is collected in specific rooms, but in thousands of small and large clinics, private hospitals, laboratories, veterinary centers, there is no such arrangement.
Dr. Muhammad Usman, posted in a large government hospital in Lahore, said, “All the waste of the hospital is collected in one room, which is picked up by a private company’s vehicle.” The possibility cannot be ruled out that the waste pickers sell the hazardous waste on the way instead of going to the dumping site as there is no tagging on the waste bags and no checking on the weighing forks.”
He further said that modern incinerators have been installed by the government to destroy the waste of hospitals near Kasur, but the waste of private clinics and hospitals does not reach there.
He also said that the medical waste collectors do not take care of the sweepers and a large number of them are suffering from hepatitis and skin diseases.
Punjab Environment Protection Department Director Naseem Rehman told The Express Tribune that legal action is being taken against those who produce plastic granules and other products from hospital waste. Recently a factory in Bandar Road Lahore has been sealed.
Naseem Rehman said that to make the system of disposal of hospital waste on scientific basis efficient, Hospital Waste Disposal App has been developed on which all district officers of Environment Department will update the report of disposal of hospital waste in their districts. .
He further informed that various methods are adopted for disposal of hospital waste including incineration, steam autoclave disinfection, microwave disinfection, mechanical/chemical disinfection method.
Environmental activist Dr. Salman Tariq says that hospital waste is extremely harmful to both human health and the environment. There is a need to create public awareness about the harms of hospital waste, proper waste management strategies to ensure health and environmental protection.
He suggested that the health officers should inspect the hospital, incinerator or landfill site under their jurisdiction to check the implementation of hospital waste management rules. Modern technology needs to be used for disposal of waste, apart from this the presence of Hospital Waste Management Committee should be ensured in every hospital in all districts.
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