KARACHI: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has completed the first phase of its province-wide Hospital Waste Management (HWM) training programme, conducting 18 structured training sessions and equipping around 400 doctors, nurses and paramedics from 18 public sector hospitals with practical skills on safe medical waste handling.

The concluding ceremony was held at the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) on Wednesday, where certificates were awarded to participants who completed the programme.

The initiative, carried out in collaboration with Sindh Public Health Services, focused on improving segregation, collection, storage and disposal of hospital waste — an area long considered weak in many public healthcare facilities.

Officials said the initiative aimed to bring practical change inside wards, operation theatres and laboratories, where improper handling of infectious waste can pose serious risks to patients, staff and the wider community.

Speaking at the event, Sepa Director General Waqar Hussain Phulpoto said the programme was launched despite limited resources.

He stressed that public sector hospitals, given their heavy patient load and bed capacity, must lead the way in setting standards for hospital waste management in Sindh.

“Segregation at source remains the most critical step. When infectious and non-infectious wastes are mixed, the entire batch becomes hazardous, increasing both health risks and disposal costs,” he said.

He reminded participants that hospital waste management was not optional.

“Under Sections 13 and 14 of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, healthcare facilities are legally bound to ensure proper licensing, segregation, handling and disposal of medical waste.”

Dr Muhammad Asif Syed, Additional Director Public Health Services, described hospital waste management as a core component of infection prevention and control.

He noted that Sindh remained vulnerable to hepatitis and HIV transmission, and poor waste practices in healthcare settings contributed to the problem.

He called for better budgeting and stronger internal monitoring within hospitals to ensure that what was taught in training sessions was implemented in practice.

Hospital representatives also shared their experiences at the ceremony.

Some of them pointed out that infection prevention equipment was available in many facilities, but that consistent implementation, regular audits and feedback systems were lacking.

Others highlighted the shortage of functional incinerators and stressed the need to extend similar training to private clinics and smaller facilities, where oversight is often weaker.

Speakers agreed that training must not be a one-time exercise. Continuous capacity building, clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and routine inspections are essential to bring lasting improvement.

According to the officials, the second phase of the programme will soon begin in other cities of the province, expanding the outreach beyond Karachi.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026