Question : Medical Waste

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the quantum of medical waste is continuously increasing in the country;

(b) if so, the details of the steps being taken by the Government for the disposal of the said waste, State/UTwise;

(c) whether the disposal of medical waste collected is being done as per conventional methods, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the modern techniques being used by the Government to dispose of medical waste;

(e) whether the Government has also taken cognizance of PPE kits, sanitizers, masks not being made as per the laid norms in this regard; and

(f) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the steps taken to prevent it?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): As informed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), according to Annual Reports submitted by State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees for the year 2019, the biomedical waste generation is about 615 tons/day. Since 2016, the biomedical waste has increased by about 15 %. There has been a gradual increase in quantity of Biomedical waste generated over the last 4 years as given below:
Year Biomedical Waste Generation (Tons per day)
2016 517
2017 559
2018 614
2019 615

Bio-Medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules, 2016 have been re-notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in suppression of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 for safe handling and disposal of biomedical wastes without any effect on human health and environment; which came into force w.e.f 28th March, 2016 and was amended from time to time.


The Central Government reviews these Rules from time to time to improve the collection, segregation, processing, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of these bio-medical wastes in an environmentally sound manner by notifying various guidelines to facilitate effective management of biomedical waste in the country.

However, in respect of Central Government Hospitals in Delhi (i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital & Lady Hardinge Medical College) and All Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, all categories of Bio Medical Waste is segregated according to colour coding as recommended in BMWM Rules, 2016. To prevent the mixing of wastes, segregation is done at the source itself.

For the disposal of COVID related bio-medical waste, all Hospitals have been advised to strictly adhere to Guidelines for Handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment, diagnostics and quarantine of COVID-19 Waste, issued by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended from time to time.
Public Health and Hospitals being ‘State’ subjects, data regarding steps being taken for disposal of medical waste – State/Union Territory wise is not centrally maintained.

The respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administrations have to ensure implementation of the Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended from time to time.

(c) & (d): As per the Schedule–I of Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, following technologies have been notified for the treatment and disposal of Bio-Medical Waste:
i) Incineration
ii) Plasma pyrolysis
iii) Autoclave/Microwave/Hydroclave
iv) Combination of sterilization & shredding
v) Dry heat sterilization
vi) Deep burial

The biomedical waste required to be treated and disposed off through above technologies in compliance to standards as prescribed under Schedule II of BMWM Rules, 2016.


Further, any person, intending to use new technologies for treatment of bio medical waste other than those listed in Schedule I shall request the Central Government for laying down the standards for operating parameters. Upon receipt of such request, the Central Government may determine the standards and operating parameters for new technology which may be published in Gazette by the Central Government. Such standards and prescribed specifications for new technologies for treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste will be laid down by CPCB.

(e) & (f): Guidelines are already in existence issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Ministry of Textiles to ensure quality and safety standards to be maintained with respect to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kit.


Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Department of Pharmaceuticals and Ministry of Textiles are continuously working with various industry bodies, stakeholders and manufacturers to streamline production, ensure quality assurance and facilitate steady supply as per technical specifications.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formulated Indian Standards for ‘Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) such as N95 Masks, Surgical Face Masks and Coveralls for COVID -19.

Although these PPEs are not under mandatory BIS certification through any technical regulations/Quality Control Orders of the Central Government, BIS has issued licenses to use BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark) to several manufacturers who have applied for license to BIS on voluntary basis.