NAROWAL: Both the Shakargarh Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital and private hospitals in the area have reportedly begun dumping prohibited medical waste on public garbage heaps.

This practice violates the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s (PHC) standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Syringes, drip sets, medicine bottles and other toxic waste can be seen scattered on the garbage heap outside the THQ Hospital.

Instead of properly storing the hazardous medical waste in designated yellow rooms, hospital staff allegedly discards it carelessly outside the hospital.

Scavengers are seen collecting this prohibited waste from the garbage dumps and selling it to junkyards.

Footage on social media shows a hospital employee burning medical waste on a pile of garbage.

Local resident Ali Raza said that banned medical waste is discarded daily outside the THQ hospital.

He said the stench from the heaps and the airborne germs pose a serious threat to public health.

Local journalist Irfan Khan confirmed that both public and private hospitals in Shakargarh routinely dispose of medical waste in garbage heaps across the city, despite several complaints to the Narowal Health Department, which have gone unanswered.

Karamat Ali, a labourer who collects medical waste from these heaps, admitted that he sells the waste to junkyards but was unaware of its hazardous nature.

Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Riaz dismissed the allegations, stating that the hospital strictly adheres to medical waste disposal SOPs.

However, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Naveed Haider confirmed that a report had been requested from the hospital, and strict legal action would be taken against those responsible.

Attempts to contact Deputy Commissioner Syed Hasan Raza for comment were unsuccessful.Citizens have demanded that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the health secretary take notice of this serious violation.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024