Madurai doctors seek overhaul of biomedical waste disposal
Doctors in Madurai have petitioned the district administration to address the mismanagement of biomedical waste disposal. They expressed concerns over conflicting reports regarding waste processing locations and the lack of transparency from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Why it matters
Improper disposal of medical waste poses a significant public health risk and highlights critical failures in environmental regulatory oversight.
Private doctors and hospital practitioners in Madurai have appealed to the district administration to streamline the collection and disposal of bio-medical waste.
During the weekly public grievance meeting here on Monday, the doctors submitted a petition to District Collector Nishant Krishna, highlighting the urgent need for a permanent, common biomedical waste treatment facility in the city.
One of the petitioners, B. Sarmesh Khan, said a private waste disposal company had earlier collected hospital waste and processed it safely at its Virudhunagar unit. However, though the facility was closed around 2023, waste collection had continued.
According to RTI data from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Madurai generates approximately 4.5 tonnes of medical waste daily.
However, the TNPCB allegedly refused to answer basic questions regarding waste collection and disposal locations.
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