New Delhi: The state pollution control board in its annual report stated that Odisha generates 14,197 kg biomedical waste everyday out of which 13,171.47 kg biomedical waste gets treated and disposed.
According to the state pollution control board report of 2017, there are 2,346 healthcare facilities operating in Odisha out of which 1,470 are bedded healthcare facilities and 876 are non-bedded facilities generating biomedical waste. The report further stated that the biomedical waste is being treated and disposed by 1,618 captive treatment facilities installed by healthcare facilities and five common biomedical waste treatment facilities.
However, the SPCB found many issues in respect to treatment of biomedical waste in the state. The SPCB report mentioned that the common biomedical waste treatment facilities are not upgraded to comply with new emission norms in the state. It also said that captive treatment facilities (either incinerator or deep burial) are operated at healthcare facilities in the state, which is not desirable. The SPCB also found inventory of non-bedded facilities such as clinics, path laboratories and research institutes incomplete.