JOIN USThe United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), along with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), had launched the project in five states, including Karnataka. The project was aimed at bringing down the Persistent Organic Pollutants, especially PCDD/PCDF (dioxins and furans) that are generated when biomedical waste is not incinerated below the prescribed temperature of 1,150 degree Celsius.
Studies show these chemicals have serious effects on health and can induce cancer, severe reproductive and developmental problems, and even damage the hormonal and immune system. India produces 3,30,000 tonnes of waste every year, out of which eight to nine per cent are infected waste. If this waste were to be segregated and treated at source, it would prevent the spread of diseases and illnesses, says Dr S Kumar, principal and dean, M S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, which is the monitoring and advisory agency for the project.
Project details
The pilot project was conducted between September and October 2010 in 140 hospitals. The health institutions included four large hospitals (over 500 beds), eight medium hospitals (250-500 beds) and 16 small hospitals (100 beds) with equal participation from government and private hospitals.
In Karnataka, K C General Hospital and Ambedkar Medical College in Bangalore, KIMS in Hubli and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Belgaum were selected in the large hospital category.
“We formed teams and sent them to train hospitals in each State on segregation of biomedical waste. The teams also visited 57 common biomedical waste treatment facilities in these five states,” said Dr Kumar.
Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and Orissa were part of the project. One model district was created in each state where even domestic biomedical waste like bandages and medicines could be disposed of in a safe and sterile manner. This meant looking at non-burn technologies such as microwave, autoclaving and hydroclaving, instead of incineration of the waste.
While the report was submitted immediately after the conclusion of the project, UNIDO is expected to sanction the project within March this year. If India bags the project, it will be second only to China to carry out the multi-million dollar project that spans over five years.