BUTWAL, May 6: The Butwal-based National Pathology Lab has been slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 for haphazardly disposing off used syringes on roads, ignoring the severe impacts it could have on human health.
During cleaning works, employees of the sub-metropolitan city found that the lab disposed syringes, bottles used for colleting blood samples, and other medical wastes, haphazardly on nearby roads.
Following the discovery of the lab’s irresponsible act, Area Police Office of Butwal, chief of Butwal Sub-metropolitan City, Bharat Mani Pandey, sub-metropolitan’s senior officials Bishnu Prasad Khanal and Bhuwa Prasad Luitel, and Laboratory Medical Association jointly made a complaint which led to the action taken against the lab.
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“We not only found the medical waste dumped haphazardly, but also found evidence that the waste belonged to the lab. As we recovered a letter-pad National Pathology Lab along with the waste as evidence, making it easier for us to take action,” said Luitel, the sub-metropolitan’s senior official.
Another senior official, Khanal said such lab waste should be disposed under ground as hospital waste can have serious implications on human health if left in the open. “But the lab ignored the negative consequences its action could have on public health. That’s why the lab has been fined as the first action.”
Officials of the sub-metropolitan have requested everyone not to dump their waste on roads and other open areas, warning of strong legal action against any defiance..
“They think anyone can throw anything on the roads. Such activities will not be tolerated anymore. That is why we are taking actions against such wrongdoers,” said sub-metropolitan chief Pandey.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics of Butwal have been disposing off their medical waste haphazardly. There are over half a dozen nursing homes and over 100 clinics in the sub-metropolis. However, there are no facilities to manage the medical waste. And hospitals, nursing homes and clinics have been dumping their medical wastes in the Sukhaura River and the local community forests.
