'Need for Pollution Control Board authorisation'
Furquan Moharkan, April 03, 2016, DHNS
Dr Asima Banu is the Nodal Officer of bio-medical waste management at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Bengaluru. The hospital boasts of exemplary cleanliness, unlike many other government hospitals, and has also been nominated as the model hospital for bio-medical waste management. In an interview with Furquan Moharkan of Deccan Herald, Dr Banu says that she thinks this policy is good, and one step ahead of already existing bio-medical waste management policy.
How do you see the new bio-medical waste management policy panning out?
This is just the modification of the existing policy and some new things have been added like phasing out the use of plastic bags. There is also improvements on emission levels in the form of inclusion of emissions limits for dioxin and furans, because they are all carcinogens. I think it will take time, but it is in a good way, forward-looking at the larger picture.
Is there anything that the government has missed out in this policy?
The government has not missed out on anything, but I think this policy also needs to be extended to rural areas. The policy needs to be followed at the grassroot level, because a major chunk of our healthcare needs are in the rural areas. So, even in the small clinics it has to be followed. That implementation has to be tightened and geared up.
You spoke about implementation. Would it be a problem?
It needs an attitude change, awareness and knowledge about bio-medical waste. Everybody should be aware that whoever is generating the waste, has to be generating and managing it properly. It’s not that the doctors generate the waste and Group B workers manage it. It calls for segregation of waste at all levels, then reduce the waste, recycle it and reuse it. These are the four things that we need to follow and it is as simple as that.
Healthcare is generally 15-20% of the general waste. The problem is when this 15-20% gets mixed with the remaining 80%, then the whole thing becomes bio-medical waste. Bio-medical waste is produced by only healthcare workers, either due to procedures, patient treatment, vaccination or due to research. So we are a small chunk that needs to be educated. We need to follow. So it has got more to do with knowledge and attitude.
Do you think that this policy will be whole-heartedly implemented by the hospitals in the country?
It is a policy decision, so they are bound to follow. There is also the concept of registration of clinic or a hospital. So, the government needs to make it mandatory that these clinics and hospitals have a certificate from the Pollution Control Board that they will dispose waste in a proper manner. If it is a regulation that is brought in for authorisation, then I think it will be a possible thing.
Do you suggest any changes in the policy?
No, I don’t think there is any need for changes in the policy. The policy is really good, and has been brought in by experts, after years of research. But to go a long way forward, implementation at the grassroot level is necessary.
How do you think this policy will impact the bio-medical companies?
As far as I know, they should all be under the purview of this, right now. They should also be following it, because the Pollution Control Board does have norms for them.
So if they are not following this, it should be made compulsory for them to follow it. In addition to this, all these research labs, the small labs that are mushrooming in every nook and corner, it is required for them to be educated. Mass education regarding this policy should be an agenda.
How do you think this policy will impact hospitals?
It will be good if they are following this policy already, and adhering to bio-medical waste management rules. Then one benefit is that their waste is managed properly, second is that it ensures safety of healthcare workers.
How do you think this policy will benefit the environment?
The main thing will be the elimination of plastic bags. Made of dioxins ands furans, they are carcinogens. That is going to have a major impact.
How far do you think this policy is going to be successful?
When we started with the initial policy in 1998, we thought it won’t be successful. There was a huge reluctance in following the policy. This policy is just one step ahead, so I think it will definitely be successful.
How do you see the new bio-medical waste management policy panning out?
This is just the modification of the existing policy and some new things have been added like phasing out the use of plastic bags. There is also improvements on emission levels in the form of inclusion of emissions limits for dioxin and furans, because they are all carcinogens. I think it will take time, but it is in a good way, forward-looking at the larger picture.
Is there anything that the government has missed out in this policy?
The government has not missed out on anything, but I think this policy also needs to be extended to rural areas. The policy needs to be followed at the grassroot level, because a major chunk of our healthcare needs are in the rural areas. So, even in the small clinics it has to be followed. That implementation has to be tightened and geared up.
You spoke about implementation. Would it be a problem?
It needs an attitude change, awareness and knowledge about bio-medical waste. Everybody should be aware that whoever is generating the waste, has to be generating and managing it properly. It’s not that the doctors generate the waste and Group B workers manage it. It calls for segregation of waste at all levels, then reduce the waste, recycle it and reuse it. These are the four things that we need to follow and it is as simple as that.
Healthcare is generally 15-20% of the general waste. The problem is when this 15-20% gets mixed with the remaining 80%, then the whole thing becomes bio-medical waste. Bio-medical waste is produced by only healthcare workers, either due to procedures, patient treatment, vaccination or due to research. So we are a small chunk that needs to be educated. We need to follow. So it has got more to do with knowledge and attitude.
Do you think that this policy will be whole-heartedly implemented by the hospitals in the country?
It is a policy decision, so they are bound to follow. There is also the concept of registration of clinic or a hospital. So, the government needs to make it mandatory that these clinics and hospitals have a certificate from the Pollution Control Board that they will dispose waste in a proper manner. If it is a regulation that is brought in for authorisation, then I think it will be a possible thing.
Do you suggest any changes in the policy?
No, I don’t think there is any need for changes in the policy. The policy is really good, and has been brought in by experts, after years of research. But to go a long way forward, implementation at the grassroot level is necessary.
How do you think this policy will impact the bio-medical companies?
As far as I know, they should all be under the purview of this, right now. They should also be following it, because the Pollution Control Board does have norms for them.
So if they are not following this, it should be made compulsory for them to follow it. In addition to this, all these research labs, the small labs that are mushrooming in every nook and corner, it is required for them to be educated. Mass education regarding this policy should be an agenda.
How do you think this policy will impact hospitals?
It will be good if they are following this policy already, and adhering to bio-medical waste management rules. Then one benefit is that their waste is managed properly, second is that it ensures safety of healthcare workers.
How do you think this policy will benefit the environment?
The main thing will be the elimination of plastic bags. Made of dioxins ands furans, they are carcinogens. That is going to have a major impact.
How far do you think this policy is going to be successful?
When we started with the initial policy in 1998, we thought it won’t be successful. There was a huge reluctance in following the policy. This policy is just one step ahead, so I think it will definitely be successful.
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