09 January 2005	Sunday	27 Ziqa'ad 1425

FAISALABAD, Jan 8: The local Environmental Department uttered its disquiet over the measures taken by the four local hospitals for the disposal of their waste.

The department also summoned hospital managements for personal hearing with a warning to take legal action for they failed to take appropriate steps.

Sources said that a special team of the Environment Department had fined Mother Care Hospital, Khadija Mehmood Trust Hospital, Al-Shafa Medical Centre, Senate Rafil Hospital, Al-Rehman Hospital, Best Hospital, Rafique Maternity Hospital, Iqbal Hospital, Fahmeeda Ilyas Hospital, Tahir Hospital, Aziz Fatima Trust Hospital, Darul Sehat, Sahil Hospital, Mian Muhammad Trust Hospital, Ali Hospital, Nawaz Medicare and Rathore Hospital for not disposing of the medical waste properly.

Show-cause notices were issued to these hospitals by the authority concerned for making appropriate measures.

Almost all the major city hospitals were found dumping hospital wastes in open places and in municipal depots which was a threat for the human lives.

The hospital administrations, called by the Environment Department, replied in details about the measures taken by them for the disposal of medical waste and assured to implement instructions of government agencies in letter and spirit.

Another Environment Department team again visited the Chiniot Maternity Hospital, Al-Rehman Hospital, Faisal Hospital and National Hospital for further inspection and found that their managements had not taken proper measures for the disposal of infectious waste.

Taking serious action on the report of the inspection team, the district officer (Environment) issued notices for personal hearing to the managements of these hospitals. In case of failure to do so, ex-parte decision would be taken against these hospitals in accordance with law", the notice concluded.

Despite making tall claims by the official agencies, the government and privately-run hospitals and dispensaries were throwing their medical waste in open places or dumping the same in local councils' filth depots.

Medical waste management has become an increasingly important issue not only due to the generation of significant quantity of wastes but also because of the fear of blood-borne disease, like AIDS and hepatitis B.