Surprise hospitals checking by PPCB,found violating rules

Patiala: In a surprise checking by Punjab Pollution Control Board, 5 government hospital and 15 private hospital, were found violating the provisions of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, during this exercise.

Disclosing this Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said, “A Total 38 teams of the board conducted surprise inspections of around 127 hospitals in the Punjab State, and 107 hospitals were found complying the provisions of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, remaining 20 hospitals were found violating these provisions.”

Pannu disclosed that the government hospital, which were found violating rules, includes Civil Hospital Khumano, Kapurthala, Pathankot,Sunam Udham Singh Wala and  ESIC Model Hospital, Ludhiana.5 Private Hospitals of Ludhiana were also found violating the rules.

Pannu said that board would follow the policy of zero tolerance with regard to bio-medical waste as it is dangerous and any negligence in its disposal led to the spread of deadly diseases. He further disclosed that Action against the violating Hospitals will be taken under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986”.

He further said that PPCB is regularly conducting the routine and surprise checks to found the violations. In Punjab, there are around 7000 Healthcare facilities which are disposing their bio-medical waste of 15 ton per day to the 4 Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facilities authorized by the Board located at SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Pathankot.