Medical Waste during Covid-19 in India : Challenges & Management

As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates more than 101 Metric Tonnes per day (MT/day) of Covid-19 related bio-medical waste in addition to the regular bio-medical waste generation about 609 MT/day.

Major additional Bio-medical Waste during current pandemic (COVID-19) :

+ Mask

+ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

+ Gloves

+ Blood Bags

+ Face shield

Challenges :

• Health Risk : The sanitation workers and garbage collector face high risk of Coronavirus infection due to without any protection or training to handle such hazardous materials.

• Lack of segregation : Municipalities pick up Covid-19 biomedical waste from houses, but it often has other household waste mixed in it.

• States are not followed the CPCB guidelines on Covid-19 related waste.

• Public Health being a 'State Subject'.

• Mismanagement in disposal of bio-medical waste related to Covid-19.

• PPE are being used everywhere, from hotels to hospitals, railway station to airports, crematorium to burial grounds so, the disposal mechanisms available in the cities are not equipped to deal with this huge volume.

• These bio-medical waste also challenging to our environment.

Additional Read : Healthcare Systems in India

Management :

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has observed that the segregation of Covid-19 biomedical waste from general garbage is a must to avoid further contamination adversely affecting public health.

• CPCB issues separate guidelines for 'Handling, Treatment and Disposal of bio-medical waste generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/Quarantine of COVID-19 patients'.

• In order to monitor COVID-19 related bio-medical waste, CPCB developed COVID-19 waste tracking App named “COVID19BWM”. 

• Directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act were issued in July, 2020 to all the SPCBs/PCCs to ensure compliance to CPCB guidelines for effective management of bio-medical waste. 

Bio-medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rule, 2016 (amended in 2018) :

+ Pre-treatment of Waste : Waste generated in laboratories, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags to be pre-treatment through disinfection or sterilisation on-site in the manner as prescribed by WHO.

+ Phasing out of use chlorinated plastic bags, gloves and blood bags.

+ 4 categories of segregation : Untreated human anatomical waste, animal anatomical waste, solid waste and Biotechnology waste.

+ Regular Training and Immunization of all health care workers.

+ Ensure proper transportation and handling of waste without any adverse effect to the human health and environment.

+ Record maintenance and monitoring of the activities related to bio-medical waste management.

+ Establish GPS and Bar-coding facility at common bio-medical waste treatment facility.

Also Read : e-Waste in India - Issues & Management

References

PIB

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