Salient features on Bio-medical waste Management Rules-2016

What is Bio-medical waste?

 Bio-medical waste means any waste which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or
immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in
the production or testing of biological or in health camps.

Is Bio-medical waste harmful to human health and environment?

 Yes. Improper bio-medical waste management lead to contamination of air, water and
soil environment and cause diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and tetanus etc. in
patients, health workers, waste handlers, and general public. The recycling of disposable
syringes and needles without proper sterilization are responsible for Hepatitis B & C,
HIV and other diseases.

Is there any law for Bio-medical waste?

 Yes. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified
BioMedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 which came in to force w.e.f. 28th March,
2016.

To whom does the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 apply?

 The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 shall apply to all who generate,
collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio medical waste in any form
including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal
houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, clinical establishments, research or
educational institutions, health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination camps,
blood donation camps, first aid rooms of schools, forensic laboratories and research labs.

What is health care facility (HCF)?

 “Health care facility (HCF)” means a place where diagnosis, treatment or immunisation
of human beings or animals is provided irrespective of type and size of health treatment
system, and research activity pertaining thereto.

Is it required to obtain authorization by health care facility (HCF)?

 Yes. Health care facility (HCF) handling bio-medical waste shall require to obtain
authorization from Gujarat Pollution Control Board i.e. prescribed authority under
BioMedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.

What should be done to the Bio-medical waste generated in health care facility (HCF)?
i) Pre-treat the laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags
through disinfection or sterilisation before sending for final treatment or disposal.
 ii) Segregate liquid chemical waste and ensure pre-treatment or neutralisation prior to
mixing with other effluent.
iii) Bio-medical waste should be segregated at the point of generation and segregated bio-
medical waste should be sent only to authorized/registered common bio-medical
waste treatment facility (CBWTF) for treatment, processing and final disposal.

What is the maximum storage time of bio-medical waste within the premises of HCF?
 Any untreated human anatomical waste, animal anatomical waste, soiled waste and,
biotechnology waste shall not be stored in the health care facility & waste storage area
beyond a period of 48 Hours. If the CBWTF does not collect the bio-medical waste
within 48 hour it is the responsibility of the health care facility to immediately notify to
the prescribed authority about any such lapse.

How category wise segregation of bio-medical waste is done?

 Health care facility (HCF) shall make a provision within the premises for a safe,
ventilated and secured location for storage of segregated biomedical waste in coloured
bags or containers. Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 categorises the bio-
medical waste generated from the health care facilities into four categories as follows.
Category of BMW: Yellow, Red Contaminated Waste (Recyclable), White (Translucent),
Blue.

Which information shall contain in bio-medical waste management register?

 The bio-medical waste management register which shows category wise bio-medical
waste generated and require to display the monthly record in website of HCF.

What is to be done in case of major accident due to bio-medical waste?

 HCF shall require to report major accidents including accidents caused by fire hazards,
blasts during handling of bio-medical waste and the remedial action taken and the records
relevant thereto, (including nil report) in Form I to Gujarat Pollution Control Board
within 24 (twenty-four) hour and also along with the annual report.

Is there any provision for treatment of bio-medical waste within the premises of HCF?
 Yes, only in case when the “common bio-medical waste treatment facility (CBWTF)” is
not available within a distance of seventy-five kilometer. HCF shall set up such treatment
equipment like incinerator, autoclave or microwave, shredder prior to commencement of
its operation, as per the authorisation given by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board
(GPCB).
How review and monitoring of the activities related to bio-medical waste management at
HCF is done?
 HCF having more than thirty beds shall require to constitute a Committee to review and
monitor the activities related to bio-medical waste management and it shall meet once in
every six months. HCF having less than thirty beds shall designate a qualified person to
review and monitor the activities relating to bio-medical waste management within that
HCFs and submit the annual report.

What is the responsibilities of HCF regarding safety measures and training of health care
workers?
i) Provide training to all its health care workers and others, involved in handling of bio
medical waste at the time of induction and thereafter at least once every year.
ii) Immunise all its health care workers and others, involved in handling of bio-medical
waste for protection against diseases including Hepatitis B and Tetanus.
iii) Provide appropriate and adequate personal protective equipments to all its health care
workers and others involved in handling of bio-medical waste.

What documents and records are required to be obtained, kept and maintained by HCF?
Following listed documents and records shall be require to prepare and maintain by HCF
i) Authorization from Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
ii) Bio-medical waste management register.
iii) Website (for monthly record of bio-medical waste management).
iv) Record on pre-treatment of bio-medical waste
v) Minutes of the meetings of bio-medical waste management review committee
(Applicable to HCFs having more than thirty beds capacity).
vi) Membership from CBWTF operator.
vii) Annual report in Form-IV as per Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
viii) Record of training, health check up and PPEs.
ix) Accident report including remedial major taken.

In Short

1. Bio-medical waste has been classified into 4 categories instead of 10 to improve the
segregation of waste at source.
2. Phase-out the use of chlorinated plastic bags, gloves, and blood bags within two years.
3. The ambit of the rules has been expanded to include vaccination camps, blood donation
camps, surgical camps, or any other healthcare activity.
4. Pre-treatment of the laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples, and blood
bags through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by WHO or
NACO.
5. State Government to provide land for setting up common bio-medical waste treatment
and disposal facilities.
6. No occupier shall establish an on-site treatment and disposal facility if a service of
`common bio-medical waste treatment facility is available at a distance of seventy-five
kilometer.
7. The new rules prescribe more stringent standards for an incinerator to reduce the
emission of pollutants in the environment;
8. Inclusion of emissions limits for Dioxin and furans;
9. Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing bio-medical waste for
disposal.
10. Provide training to all its health care workers and immunize all health workers regularly.