Biomedical waste burning at GMC was accidental: Vishwajit

Panaji: In a move to avoid waste fire incidents at GMC hospital, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has informed the assembly that the medical superintendent of GMC has written to the health secretary seeking permission to stop receiving biomedical waste (BMW) from different hospitals, except for GMC and its attached hospital.

In a written reply to an unstarred question of MLA Vijai Sardesai, over the recent GMC biomedical waste burning incident, Health Minister said that presently Goa Medical College is generating 1,100 kg of biomedical waste (BMW) on daily basis and due to COVID-19, the additional waste received from different hospitals, including COVID care centres across the state and from CCP jurisdiction, is around 1,200 kg to 1,500 kg and the total comes to 2200 kg to 2500 kg per day.

However, he said the incineration capacity at GMC is just 100 kg per hour.

Rane said it was an accidental fire which took place at huge pile of waste received from different hospitals of Goa including all COVID care centres and the hospitals under CCP jurisdiction. 

When asked whether any responsibility was fixed in the waste burning incident, the Minister said the responsibility has been fixed on collecting agency.

He said since GMC’s is the only incineration facility currently available in the state, it receives biomedical waste from various COVIDcare centres and hospitals across the state. 

Also GMC generates 1,100 kg of biomedical waste on a day-to-day  basis and non-incinerated waste is stored and subsequently disposed of, it was informed.

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