Clinical services on verge of a major breakdown
Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Anil Jasinghe warned last week that clinical services including surgeries could come to a standstill in the Western, Southern and Central Provinces because the collection and disposal of clinical waste had come to a standstill.
He said this was the result of the certificate to operate an incinerator had been withdrawn by the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha.
Earlier an incinerator was set up at the Mulleriyawa Hospital premises by a private company on a certificate issued by the Wattala PS. The Wattala PS has obtained a court injunction against this incinerator and gave a trade certificate to the same campany to build two incinerators with a eight metric ton capacity at Muthurajawela. Cabinet approval was also been obtained for this purpose. However, the Wattala PS has also suspended the trade permit for these two incinerators as well. “Political influence has disrupted the clinical waste disposal and more than 100 metric tons of clinical waste have accumulated at the hospitals in the three provinces. Improper management of clinical waste causes environmental pollution and significant adverse health issues to patients, visitors, health workers and surrounding communities. Clinical waste generated from Healthcare Institutions are considered hazardous due to its infective, reactive, toxic and flammable properties. Therefore, the management of clinical waste disposal in a safe and harmless manner is extremely vital,” Dr. Jasinghe said.
He said Cabinet approval was granted in July 2018 to begin an environmentalfriendly incineration facility to manage clinical waste on a public-private partnership by the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, the Central Environmental Authority and Sisily Hanaro Encare (Pvt) Ltd.
“This project was also approved by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development in October 2018 while the Land Development Corporation signed a 30-year lease agreement with Sisily Hanaro Encare (Pvt) Ltd in October 2018. The Preliminary Environmental Study Report for the launch of the project was obtained in January 2019 while approval was obtained from all other State, local government and provincial institutions for the project,” Dr. Jasinghe said.
He said construction work was begun subjected to the above approvals and reports
Political influence has disrupted the clinical waste disposal and more than 100 metric tons of clinical waste have accumulated at the hospitals in the three provinces. Improper management of clinical waste causes environmental pollution and significant adverse health issues to patients
with the project when completed expected to have two eight metric ton capacity high end incinerators.
“Due to non-operation of the incinerator, a severe crisis in clinical waste management is to be expected at major healthcare institutions including National Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Castle Street Hospital for Women, Karapitiya TH and Kandy TH. Since healthcare facilities do not have proper storage facilities even to store such wastes temporarily, it will create environmental pollution endangering human health. Due to the large quantities generated from the affected major healthcare institutions, diversion to other healthcare management facilities will not be possible on a continuous basis. This situation will lead to violation of environmental regulations (EPL &SWL) under the National Environmental Act of Sri Lanka (26 of 1980). The odour of such wastes too creates discomfort and nuisance to patients, health staff as well as the surrounding community. Therefore under these conditions, there is a grave risk of disruption of health care services in healthcare institutions served by Sisily Hanaro Encare (Pvt) Ltd which will affect patients at large creating a very sensitive situation which can become a national level crisis,” Dr. Jasinghe said.