ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pepa) has asked seven capital-based hospitals in both public and private sectors to furnish a report on their waste management mechanisms , official sources told Dawn.

In this regard, the agency had sent a letter to the hospitals concerned on December 20, 2003 and asked the respective managements to submit their reports within 10 days.

However, none of the hospitals have responded so far, the sources said.

The seven hospitals asked to submit reports are the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Federal Government Services Hospital, KRL General Hospital, Capital Hospital, Ali Medical Centre, Shifa International Hospital and National Institute of Health.

The agency has asked the respective hospital administrations to provide information regarding adequacy of their waste disposal systems, specifications of incinerators, if installed, and details of their future plans for upgradation.

"Improper disposal of infectious waste generated in the hospitals is very dangerous to all those who either handle the waste or are exposed to it as a consequence of careless management," the letter said.

"Therefore, the EPA needs information as to how you people handle hospital wastes," it further said.