KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Annapurna Neuro Hospital in Maitighar to improve its hazardous waste management practices.
Following an inspection led by KMC’s Department of Environmental Management, a team from the Department of Health and the Metropolitan Police Circle found serious lapses in waste handling, from improper classification and collection to unsafe final disposal methods.
The inspection found that the hospital lacked a formal action plan for managing hazardous waste. Critical areas such as emergency rooms, surgery wards, and laboratories showed inconsistent waste classification practices, with bins of mismatched colors and inadequate signage for the public.
Although the hospital has installed technology to manage harmful waste, it remains unclear whether the process adequately mitigates health risks. Compounding the issue, waste designated for recycling was improperly stored in black plastic bags, with water flowing in the area.
Most concerning was the discovery that the hospital’s waste collection center is located underground in a space designated for parking.
This is the third consecutive year that KMC has monitored waste management practices at hospitals, and Annapurna Neuro Hospital has previously been offered training opportunities.
Despite these interventions, substantial improvements have not been made. The KMC monitoring team has instructed the hospital to immediately prevent hazardous waste from being mixed with regular waste and to properly manage infectious materials.
Additionally, the hospital has been asked to submit documentation outlining its waste management practices, which is a requirement for its operational permit. Failure to comply within the seven-day window could lead to further action by city authorities.
The ongoing waste management issues at hospitals like Annapurna Neuro highlight broader concerns about public health and environmental safety in Kathmandu.
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