Why In News ?

An oversight committee headed by Justice SVS Rathore filed a report before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on non-compliance of the provisions of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMW Rules, 2016) by Uttar Pradesh.

Committee Report

• There was an elaborate track and trace system of bio-medical waste management prescribed in the BMW Rules, 2016, in which all coloured bags are bar-coded.
• The movement of trucks is tracked through a global positioning system (GPS).
• Only a few were introduced tracking or bar-code system that questioning the reliability of data generated is a matter of concern. 
• Large infrastructural gaps in healthcare facilities (HCF) were also noticed, due to which many were not complying with BMW Rules.
  • Around 452 of 530 HCFs with an operating capacity of more than 100 beds did not have sewage treatment plants (STP) / effluent treatment plants (ETP).
  • Even in government facilities, out of 1,027 HCFs comprising district hospitals and community health centrers (CHC), 564 did not have collection sheds where biomedical waste could be collected.
  • Only 628 primary health centers (PHC) out of 3,620 had deep burial pits.
  • The construction of ETPs in district hospitals was very slow and only 40 district hospitals were taken up for ETP construction in 2020
• Another important gap was noticed in the disposal of radioactive materials. 

Bio-Medical Waste Management (BMW Rules)

• What is a Bio-Medical Waste ?
  • Human & animal anatomical waste, treatment apparatus like needles, syringes and other materials used in health care facilities in the process of treatment and research during the diagnosis, treatment and any other process.
  • These health care facility extended to vaccination camps, blood donation camps, surgical camps or any other health-care activity which generates hazardous medical waste.
• Bio Medical Waste in India
  • At present, 484 tonnes per day (TPD) of bio-medical waste is generated from 1,68,869 health-care facilities (HCFs) in the country.
  • Total 447 TPD out of 484 TPD of such waste is treated.
  • There are 198 common bio-medical waste treatment facilities (CBMWF) in operation and 28 are under construction in different parts of the country.
• Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules
  • Bio-medical waste management rules has hence been notified to efficiently manage the generated biowaste in the country.
  • BMW Management Rules, 2016
    • Phase-out the use of chlorinated plastic bags, gloves and blood bags within two years.
    • Provide training to all its health care workers and immunise all health workers regularly.
    • Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing bio-medical waste for disposal.
    • The new rules prescribe more stringent standards for incinerator to reduce the emission of pollutants in environment.
    • Inclusion of emissions limits for Dioxin and furans.
    • State Government to provide land for setting up common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility.
    • Operator of a common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility to ensure the timely collection of bio-medical waste from the HCFs and assist the HCFs in conduct of training.
    • Guidelines of Duties of the Health care facilities, Duties of the operator of a common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility, Treatment and disposal are provided
    • Advisory Committee : Government of every State/Union Territory shall constitute an advisory committee with the experts in the field of medical and health, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, environmental management, municipal administration, and any other related department or organisation including non -governmental organisations.
    • Monitoring of implementation at various level and committee to be constituted. 
    • Global positioning system for handling of bio-medical waste in accordance with guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board by March 27, 2019.

Need for Bio Medical Management System

Scientific disposal of biomedical waste through segregation, collection and treatment in an environmentally sound manner is required to minimise the adverse impact on health workers and on the environment.

It should be required because

• Risk of infection outside hospital for waste handlers and scavengers
• Also pose risk to general public living in the vicinity of hospitals
• Risk associated with hazardous chemicals, drugs to persons handling wastes at all levels.

Way Forward

The report recommended that capacity building workshops be organised on a continuous basis for all stakeholders  doctors, paramedics, other hospital staff, laboratory staff, blood bank staff, private practitioners, nursing homes and HCF.

Source : Down To Earth

Topic

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Current Affairs Compilation : 9 October 2020