The Times of India                  11.05.2013

SMC fines four hospitals for bio-medical waste

SURAT: The health department of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) slapped notices on four private hospitals, including a well-known IVF centre, for flouting norms on disposal of bio-medical waste here on Thursday.

SMC has been carrying out surprise inspections in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes to check to check their bio-medical waste disposal mechanism. At least 186 hospitals, nursing homes and clinics were covered on Thursday. Four private hospitals, namely 21st Century Hospital run by Dr Purnima Nadkarni and Dr Pooja Nadkarni, Ayush Hospital run by Dr Ghanshyam Patel and Givani Orthopedic Hospital and a private clinic were issued notices and asked to ensure proper disposal of medical waste. They were given final ultimatum on proper disposal of hazardous medical waste as per Gujarat Pollution Control Board's guidelines. The hospitals were fined a total of Rs 90,000, a SMC release said.

The harmful bio-medical waste generated in the city is finding its way to public dustbins and nalas instead of being disposed of in special incinerators. The medical waste, includes syringes, blood-soaked bandages, human products and waste left during surgeries as well as expired medicines.

"In the past couple of days, we have checked more than 400 hospitals, nursing homes and clinics in the city and many have been issued with notices for flouting the disposal norms for bio-medical waste," a senior health officer said.