MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to act tough on the hospitals and medical clinics with regards to handling of bio-medical waste, with chief officer Agnelo Fernandes on Monday warning those violating the bio-medical rules and guidelines of strict action.
He said henceforth the civic body will not lift the bio-medical waste from the healthcare facilities.
Speaking to the media persons, he said it has been brought to his notice that the bio-medical waste generated from healthcare facilities i.e. hospitals, medical clinics, medical laboratories, veterinary clinics and diagnostic centres operating within the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council are not scientifically disposing of their bio-medical waste generated as per the Bio-Medical Waste Rules 2016.
“There were several incidents wherein the medical waste generated by these healthcare facilities was thrown around garbage bins and in other open spaces which got mixed with the municipal solid waste thereby creating a health hazard”, he said.
He said earlier as there were no common bio-medical waste treatment facilities in the State and to limit the health hazard and garbage menace, the municipal body was collecting waste from these healthcare facilities.
“Now, a designated common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) has been set up by the government through Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) at Kundaim IDC, for scientific treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste. The concessionaire of CBWTF is Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd”, he added.
The Chief Officer directed all healthcare facilities to dispose of the bio-medical waste generated at their facilities to the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility at Kundaim. The waste should be handed over to the collection agency as per the Bio-Medical Waste Rules 2016.
The MMC will only collect dry waste which will be scrutinized as it is observed that bio-medical waste is found mixed with dry waste collected from medical institutes/healthcare facilities within the council’s jurisdiction.
The Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) have instructed the council to strictly monitor and report any incidents of mishandling of bio-medical waste by healthcare facilities. Strict penalties may be imposed on institutes found flouting the guidelines.
“Those who have not been following the medical waste disposal guidelines are hereby notified to strictly adhere to the rules, failing which strict action will be taken against those found flouting the Bio-medical Rules and Guidelines”, he warned.
The CO said the MMC has received several complaints from concerned residents on the above subject and will strictly monitor the same from Monday.
Recently, the civic body had imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a medical establishment as syringes were found dumped in the garbage bins.
