Lok Sabha Question No. 1847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Medical Waste
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH February, 2021

## MEDICAL WASTE

## 1847. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

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 A nnual R eport s submitted by State Pollution Control Board s/ Pollution Contr ol Committee sfor 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 |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|
|   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  (Manage ment  and Handling) Rules, 1998 for safe handling and disposal of biomedical wastes without any effect human health and environment; which came into force w.e.f 28 th March, 2016and 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 ofbiomedical 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  o Medical Sciences, Delhi, all categories of B ioM edical W asteis 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  duri treatment, diagnostics and quarantine of COVID -19 Waste, issued by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Bio -medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended f rom 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) Administra tio s 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 an d disposal of Bio - Medical Waste:

- i) Incineration
2. ii) Plasma pyrolysis
3. iii) Autoclave/Microwave/Hydroclave
4. iv) Combination of sterilization & shredding
- v) Dry heat sterilization
6. vi) Deep burial

The biomedical waste required to be treated and disposed off through above technolo 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 me dical waste other than those listed in Schedule I shall request the Central Government for laying d standards for operating parameters. Upon receipt of such request, the Central Government 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 technologies for treatment and disposal of bio - medical waste will be laid down by CPCB.

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

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

Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  has formulated  I ndian  Standards  for  'Personal Protective  Equipment s (PPEs) such  as  N95  Masks,  Surgical  Face  Masks  and  Coveralls  for COVID - 19.

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