Medical Waste Management: HC seeks report on steps taken

The High Court yesterday wanted to know what measures have been taken for the management of medical waste across the country.

The court asked the forest and environment secretary to submit a report on this issue by July 10.

The secretary has been ordered to describe in the report what steps have been taken to implement the section 3 of the Medical Waste (Management and Processing) Act, 2008 in order to ensure proper management of the medical wastage, Deputy Attorney General Debashish Battacharyya told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan came up with order after virtually hearing a writ petition jointly filed by environment expert Dr Anneka Ali and rights organisation Law and Life Foundation, seeking necessary directives to this effect.

During hearing on the petition, petitioners' lawyer Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallob told the HC that a large quantity of medical wastage is produced in the country every day but they are not being disposed of properly.

Therefore, public health and environment are being damaged, he argued.

The lawyer prayed to the HC to pass an order on the authorities concerned of the government to take necessary measures to ensure proper management and disposal of the medical wastage in line with the Medical Waste Act.