In 2018, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released new amendments to the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Key Highlights
Major Bio-medical waste generators such as hospitals, clinics, vaccination camps etc. will now be required to phase-out the use of chlorinated plastic bags and gloves by March, 2019.
Common biomedical waste treatment facility (CBMWTF) shall be established with GPS and Bar coding facility, as per guidelines of the CPCB.
The new rule specifies for “pre-treatment of Bio-medical waste”; where every occupier of health care facility needs to pre-treat the laboratory waste, microbiological waste etc. on-site, as per guidelines on safe management of wastes from health care activities by WHO and WHO Blue Book 2014 and then send it to CBMWTF for final disposal.
All healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, etc. should provide annual report on its official website within two years of the publication of the amended rules.
