THE concerns on the disposal of medical wastes has led an official from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 to encourage the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) to provide a facility for the final disposal of infectious and hazardous wastes.
While this developed, Pollution Control Division chief Rizalina Sabelon of the EMB 7 said that it would be better if hospitals could process and treat their own medical wastes before the final disposal.
Sabelon said it would be better if the health department and LGUs had their own treatment and storage facilities, even if there are existing private service providers.
In an executive session before the Cebu City Council, it was found that since June last year, most of the infectious wastes in different public and private hospitals in the city were not collected due to the lack of accredited treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities in Cebu.
The executive session was called last Wednesday, Jan. 30, to discuss the concerns on the management of medical waste in the city.
EMB 7 Director William Cuñado encouraged all hospitals to put up an autoclave facility, where hazardous waste can be treated before final disposal.
Autoclave is a sterilization process that uses high-pressure steam to kill bacteria that is resistant to boiling water.
At present, only Chong Hua Hospital along Fuente Osmeña has its own autoclave facility.
By having their own autoclave facilities, Cuñado said hospitals and other infectious and hazardous waste generators will not solely depend on the service of private TSD facilities.
Dr. Anton Reposar, acting administrator of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), said that while their private service provider has yet to collect their medical wastes due to accreditation concerns, the hospital has a storage facility where hazardous medical wastes are kept.
Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists Inc. (Passi) has been collecting the medical waste of CCMC, but the hauler temporarily suspended its operation since June last year after it encountered technical issues with its permit.
Passi, however, can resume its operation anytime, as the EMB 7 has already approved its permit. (RVC)