BIO-MEDICAL WASTE (MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING) RULES 1998

• Salient Features

• Bio-Medical Waste Management

• Handling of Bio-Medical Waste

• Standards for Treatment & Disposal

• Authorization and Renewal Fees (Notification Hindi date:16/06/2006)

• Authorization and Renewal Fees (Notification English date:16/06/2006)

• Authorization Status

• Annual Report

Salient Features:

• Published by Govt. of India, under Section 6 & 25 of Environmental Protection Act 1986 on 20/7/98 and appeared in official gazette of India on 27/7/98.

• Deals with the generation/handling/treatment/disposal of Bio Medical Waste.

• These rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle bio-medical waste in any form.

• Rule 4 specify duty of occupier (generator) to take all steps to ensure that such waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment.

• Rule 5 and 6 specifies waste management procedures.

• Section 7 is about prescribed authority that shall implement these rules. In Madhya Pradesh M.P. Pollution Control Board has been declared as prescribed authority by the State Govt.

• These rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle bio-medical Waste in any form. Every occupier of an institution generating, collecting, receiving, storing, transporting, treating disposal and for handling Bio-medical waste in any other manner, except such occupier of clinics, dispensaries, pathological laboratories, blood banks providing treatment/service to less Than 1000 patients per month and also the operators of Biomedical waste facility are covered under these rules.

• Form 1 has been fixed for application of authorization. Govt. has also prescribed necessary fee. of M.P.

• An advisory Committee as required under rule 9 has also been constituted by Govt. of M.P. Constitution of appellate authority is underway.

• Following the rule 7(1) of the said rules, the Government of M.P. Has nominated M.P. Pollution Control Board, Bhopal as prescribed authority to implement these rules in Madhya Prudish, vide their order dated 23/10/98.

• Govt. of M.P. has also issued a notification in regard of necessary fee for issuance of authorization under rule 8(3) of these rules on dated 12/2/99.

• As per these rules, this shall be the duty of every occupier {as defined in rule 3(8)} of an institution generating bio-medical waste which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory blood bank by what ever name called to take all steps to ensure that such waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment.

BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

 (Guidelines - there of)

At present with advancement of medical science most of the hospitals/nursing homes are now equipped with latest instruments for diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. One of the most important aspect associated with hospitals is the safe management of the wastes; generated from these establishments, which contains human anatomical wastes blood, body fluid, disposable syringe, used bandages, surgical gloves, Blood bags intravenous tubes etc. The Bio-medical waste generated from various sources has become a problem and much attention is being given worldwide to find out solution of this problem. The main concern lies with the hospital waste generated from large hospitals/nursing homes as it may pose deleterious effects due to its hazardous nature. Bio-medical wastes, if not handled in a proper way, is a potent source of diseases, like AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and other bacterial diseases causing serious threats to human health. Owing to the discussed potential threats this waste needs prime attention for its safe and proper disposal.

According to these rules Bio-medical wastes have been categorized under 10 categories and are required to be managed and handled as per prescribed procedures.