The government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has constituted special squads for inspecting the biomedical treatment facilities available with the healthcare institutions in the state. The government has warned that any instance of improper treatment of bio-medical waste could fetch a penalty of Rs one lakh and five years of imprisonment under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
The special squads are in addition to an already existing team comprising of Additional Secretary (Health), Project Director (COEH) and Programme Officer (BMW) DHS (HQ) who carry out regular inspection of these hospitals.
The biomedical waste management cell of the state government has made it clear that every healthcare establishment should either have own waste treatment facility or should have an arrangement with a service provider authorized by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). DPCC is the designated authority to implement the Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1998 in the state.
All healthcare establishments treating more than 1000 patients a month should seek authorization from DPCC after paying a prescribed fee. The present fee structure is such that all clinics, pathological labs, blood banks, veterinary institution, dispensaries and animal houses need to pay Rs 1000 per year for authorization.
In the case of hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare establishments, it is Rs 1000 per year upto 4 beds and Rs 100 per bed per year for all additional beds. While operator of the biomedical waste treatment facility should remit Rs 10,000 per year for approval from the committee, the annual fee is Rs 7,500 per annum for the transporter of bio-medical waste.
In addition to DPCC, Delhi has an Advisory Committee with 10 members. While the Principal Secretary (Health) is the chairman, the Director Health Services is the Member Secretary / Convener of the committee.
Keeping in view the difficulties faced by private hospitals/nursing homes in treatment of biomedical waste, the government has allowed these units to avail the facility through India Waste Energy Development Ltd. (IWEDL) at DDU hospital, LBS hospital, GTB hospital and BJRM hospital. Another agency is Synergy Waste Management Company, a private sector firm located at Nangloi, West Delhi. This agency has authorization from DPCC as operator of the Bio-Medical Waste Treatment facility and catering about 350 Health Care Institutions.
There are 25 Hospitals under Government of Delhi, out of which 11 are under DHS. Six Hospitals are having Incinerators and 9 hospitals are having Autoclaves and Shredders for Scientific Management of Bio-Medical Waste. Bio-Medical Waste from these Hospitals, where such facilities are not available are segregated and transported in special van to Hospitals where such facilities exist.
The government is also planning to procure special vehicles to monitor biomedical waste management and hopes to find necessary funds from within the 10th five-year plan allocation for the state.