Biomedical Waste Causes 10-15% Infections Among Public In AP

The biomedical waste generated from hospitals causes 10-15 % infections in Andhra Pradesh, revealed a survey released by Multipurpose Awareness Society in Hyderabad.

There are about 6600 hospitals across Andhra Pradesh generating 2166 tonnes of bio-hazard waste every day. Most of these hospitals are resorting to inappropriate methods and letting the hazardous waste either in the regular drainages or disposing them in open bins along with solid wastes.

According to Boda Nageswar, president of Multipurpose Awareness Society, majority of hospitals in the state are unmindful of the environment and throw their biomedical hazardous wastes in open bins and waste water drains without treating it, because of which 10-15 % of infections are caused by the bio hazardous wastes in the state. “With no proper training to hospital staff and no dedicated work force to pick and dispose biomedical waste generated in the hospitals, there is a high risk of infections caused by used up needles and blades,” said Nageswar.

Usually hospitals generate different kinds of wastes from outpatient, inpatient, emergency wards and operation theatres.

The wastes generated in the testing laboratories also add to it. Most of the biomedical hazardous wastes constitute used-up needles, blades, stained bandages, used-up IV fluid pipes, polythene bags, apart from wastes like cut-off body parts, etc.

According to the Biomedical Wastes Hazard Act, all the generated waste from the hospitals should be segregated and accordingly packed in white, red and yellow boxes or bags and should be marked in bold ‘bio-hazard-waste’ on the pack before disposing it off. All such wastes should be first disintegrated using incinerators, autoclaves and microwaves before burying them in the soil.

(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated February 20, 2014)