PHC orders closure of KTH incinerator after EPA report

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) management to close incinerator till the next order after receiving Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s report that it was creating air pollution.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Abdul Shakoor passed the direction after receiving report from the EPA about the steps taken by the hospitals for disposal of medical waste. On the previous hearing, the court had directed the EPA Director General, Dr Bashir Khan, to inspect all the government and private hospitals of the provincial metropolis and submit a detailed report about the steps taken for disposal of the waste.

On Friday, the EPA chief submitted the report about the hospitals in the court. He submitted that the incinerators of the KTH and Rehman Medical Institution (RMI) were working in the worst condition as they were creating black smoke causing dangerous air pollution.

The director general informed the court that he had sent several letters after inspecting the incinerators for closing it and installing other incinerators for hospitals waste disposal. He said he had also issued letters to Peshawar deputy commissioner to close down the incinerators of these hospitals, but no action was taken to date.

However, in the report, it was stated that Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) procedure for disposal of waste was the best and the incinerator was working well. About the status of Lady Reading Hospital and North-West General Hospital, it was stated that their incinerators were normal but were asked to improve their position in the disposal of hospital waste.

On the request of the KTH lawyer, Khalid Rehman, the court asked the PDA director general to again inspect the hospital incinerator and submit fresh report about it. However, the court again asked representatives of the hospitals of the province to install incinerators and fulfill all requirements for disposal of hospitals waste or else they would be proceeded against.

On the previous hearing, Dr Ayub Roz from Health Department had submitted that the waste was being disposed of in the district headquarters and the system would be improved if it was found not working properly. However, he informed the court that the department would not be responsible for the private hospitals on this issue as they had to dispose of own waste.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by a Peshawar-based high court lawyer, Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel, seeking court directions for safe disposal of the waste of the government and private hospitals and doctors' clinics. The petitioner requested the court to direct the respondents to follow Standard Operating Procedures provided in the law and submit the waste management plan.