Health Ministry says the first batch of medical waste incinerators for tier-one healthcare facilities are expected to be delivered before the end of this year.
The special machinery is sought by the Ministry as the waste produced at the healthcare facilities run by the government requires special handling and disposal.
Healthcare by-products or waste produced at the facilities contain hazardous substances which has the potential for posing threats to public health if not properly disposed. Hence, the need for a proper mechanism to dispose healthcare waste is essential.
Health Ministry is currently seeking machinery for the purpose of properly disposing waste, produced at healthcare facilities. Under the efforts to standardize healthcare facilities in the atolls, the ministry has contracted a party to seek machinery for eight health centres.
Deputy Director General at the Health Ministry, Ahmed Gasim said that the government employs the idea of seeking healthcare waste management machinery to all healthcare facilities in the islands. He said these machineries will be included in next years’ budget plan. He said the healthcare facilities with the most number of patient visits will be given precedence while providing the waste management machinery.
Sighting health concerns, Gasim said that the ash left off from medical waste incineration, must also be properly disposed. Health Ministry says it will receive the machinery for medical waste incineration within the next 3 months.