5-year jail mooted for flouting medical waste disposal rules

New Delhi July 7 (IANS) Failure to dispose of medical waste as per the new rules will attract a jail term of five years or a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both the Delhi government said on Friday.

The Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1998 has been superseded by the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia inaugurating a workshop on implementation of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 stressed on the need for creating awareness about the rule and added that healthcare facilities including hospitals nursing homes and clinics should be sensitised on the matter.

The new rule covers all persons who generate collect receive store transport treat dispose or handle biomedical waste in any form.

As per the new rules laboratory waste microbiological waste blood samples and blood bags should be pre-treated through disinfection or sterilisation on-site as prescribed by World Health Organization or the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) according to a government statement.

Also all healthcare facilities should display their authorisation issued by Delhi Pollution Control Committee so that public can verity it.

Failure to comply with provisions of the rule will attract penal action as per provisions of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 which includes imprisonment of five years or a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both it said.

--IANS
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