At the time, it was reported that just ten hospitals were in the process of registration under the Biomedical Waste Management Rules and as many as 56 facilities were in violation of the regulations, with twelve being ordered to close ahead of the order to shutter the 32 facilities subsequently.
In India, biomedical waste is increasing day by day. March 2018 it was reported that 550.9 tonnes of biomedical waste are generated each day. By next year, this figure is expected to jump to 775.5 tonnes a day and an annual increase of seven percent is projected. As such, proper management is a necessity and vigilance by authorities is vital for this to occur. The reports from Bihar reinforce the importance of this. Action against negligent and erring facilities is required from all parts of India to avert an environmental and sanitation crisis owing to improper biomedical waste disposal.318 health facilities and diagnostic units received closure orders from The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) in three districts — Bhojpur, Rohtas, and Buxar as for non-compliance of the rules regarding the disposal of biomedical wastes through the common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility (CBWTF).
239 registered health centers in other states also received directions to revive their affiliations with the CBWTF. Birendra Kumar, public relations officer at the BSPCB said that these healthcare units disposed of their biomedical wastes through the CBWTF earlier, but later stop following this system, proving that they were not disposing of their biomedical wastes properly now. He also added that the Bihar State Pollution Control Board has been monitoring the issue of biomedical waste produced by healthcare centers in both urban and rural areas of the state.
The pollution board also asked concerned civil surgeons while issuing the closure to ensure compliance of the rules and directives to make other arrangements for the patients under treatment in these units. Now, biomedical waste becomes a big threat to our environment as it has included toxic chemicals, microorganisms, and other harmful agents.
The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) highlighted a national pollution and sanitation issue and closure notice sent to 201 nursing homes, clinics, eye, and bone hospital and diagnostic units. Kumar noted that it becomes important to dispose of medical place in an environmentally friendly way.
In India, improper medical waste disposal has been flagged in numerous parts of India. In May 2019, Goa state also sent showcase notices to 350 hospitals and clinics. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation fined Rs 2.19 lakh in 23 hospitals and clinics for improper biomedical waste disposal earlier this year. Delhi Pollution Control Board also ordered the closure of 32 facilities for improper medical waste disposal in July, against the backdrop of reports that facilities in Delhi were behind schedule in implementing Union Environment Ministry guidelines on biomedical waste disposal.
