ISLAMABAD: Installation of incinerators in hospitals of the capital has been delayed as the government has not yet transferred Rs56 million funds for the purpose to the Punjab government.

A doctor at Pims said as the Punjab government had recently made an agreement to purchase 28 incinerators. The provincial government was asked to purchase 30 incinerators – two for the federal capital – at the already finalised terms and conditions.

“However, now we hear that the funds have not be transferred to the Punjab government due to which it seems the project will once again be delayed,” he said.

Pims Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad told Dawn that he was making efforts to ensure the funds are transferred so that two incinerators are arranged.

The Pims doctor said the hospitals of the federal capital have been operating without proper incinerator facilities for decades.

“Almost every health minister and that of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) announce that they will soon bring incinerators for hospitals but their claims never materialise. The French government also offered to provide one as aid, but that offer was also not utilised as an official request was not sent,” he said.

The doctor said former CADD minister Usman Ibrahim had also made efforts which never materialised either.

“There are tens of operation theatres, laboratories, dialysis and emergency facilities so a huge amount of waste is collected every day but there is no proper arrangement to dispose of that waste,” he said.

The doctor explained that solid waste is burnt at 1,600 degree Celsius to avoid chances of spreading infections.

“However, a number of times we have witnessed that hospital waste is burnt in the open,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018