ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the sale of infectious waste material from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in the market and directed the Ministry of Health to hold an independent inquiry instead of an internal inquiry.

The prime minister has sought a report within 48 hours, having the facts of the issue, fixing responsibilities and steps to avoid loopholes in the disposal of the waste in future.

A vendor hired by the Pims administration to incinerate medical waste on the hospital premises was found involved in the sale of infectious material such as discarded syringes and blood bags, in the federal capital in cahoots with hospital employees.

Though this material can be used to manufacture toys, shoes and other products, the management was gravely concerned that the used syringes and glucose bags can be reused by the buyers, which would result in HIV/Aids, cancer and hepatitis outbreak.

After the shocking discovery, Pims Executive Director Dr Naeem Malik had established a three-member fact-finding committee, headed by Prof of General Surgery Dr S.H. Waqar.

Moreover, the management had written a letter to the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP), informing that Pims employees were also involved in the scam and that an FIR be registered to arrest the culprits involved in the illegal act.

The management has hired a company that gets around Rs1.4 million per month to collect the hospital waste and incinerate it on the premises to avert recycling of the infectious waste.

However, the waste was being sold at a local depot in Sector G-11.

Across the globe, incinerators are used to burn such waste. Ideally, an incinerator should have primary and secondary chambers to dispose of hospital waste and also process the smoke produced as a result.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Moving forward
Updated 29 Sep, 2023

Moving forward

It is hoped that the ECP followed the set rules diligently while demarcating constituency boundaries.
Pipeline in stasis
Updated 29 Sep, 2023

Pipeline in stasis

If finding dollars to fund the scheme is difficult, alternative currencies can be used.
Playing in India
Updated 29 Sep, 2023

Playing in India

WITH visa issues resolved, and after slight alterations in travel plans, Pakistan’s cricket team finally touched...
Accruing more debt
Updated 28 Sep, 2023

Accruing more debt

We are in midst of the worst, longest economic crisis because of lavish lifestyles of powerful interests.
Israeli normalisation
28 Sep, 2023

Israeli normalisation

OVER the past few weeks, there have been many reports prophesising the impending normalisation of ties between Saudi...
Kandhkot tragedy
28 Sep, 2023

Kandhkot tragedy

THE tragic incident that unfolded yesterday in Sindh’s Kandhkot tehsil, leading to the deaths of at least nine...