KATHMANDU, Feb 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)'s Environment Management Department has halted waste collection from four hospitals starting from Sunday following a monitoring inspection of the waste management of the health institutions.

Sarkardeep Shrestha, the in-charge engineer of the landfill site, said that the collection of waste materials from Sahid Memorial Hospital, Nepal National Hospital, Dirghayu Guru Hospital, and Om Hospital in Chabahil has been suspended.

Last Friday, hospitals in the Kalanki area underwent monitoring, followed by hospitals in the Chabahil area on Sunday. Previously, waste collection from Kanti Children's Hospital in Maharajgunj had also been suspended.

Hospitals affected by the waste collection halt have been instructed to present themselves at the Environmental Management Department of KMC within three days with a plan for disinfecting infectious waste, documentation related to waste management commitments made during hospital registration and operation, and information about organizations collaborating on waste management.

"Our monitoring aims to prevent hazardous waste from reaching the landfill site. During inspections, various waste management practices were observed," stated Shrestha. "The management of infectious waste falls under the responsibility of the producer. Not all hospitals are at fault, and immediate improvements can be made. It is seen that infrastructure and mechanisms need to be established for hospital waste management. A decision regarding the suspended waste will be made based on these observations," he added.

 
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