The safe disposal of biomedical waste generated by hospitals in Kaimur district is raising serious concerns. Kaimur lacks its own treatment plant for medical waste, forcing hospitals to send their waste approximately 210 kilometers away to IGIMS in Patna, posing a significant risk of infection.

Kaimur district houses 191 government and 117 private hospitals, including Sadar Hospital, Referral Hospitals, Community Health Centers (CHCs), Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and 176 Health and Wellness Centers. These government hospitals alone generate an estimated 80 to 100 kilograms of medical waste daily. The absence of local facilities for the safe disposal of such a large volume of waste is putting immense pressure on the existing system.

Sangam Private Limited company is responsible for the collection and transportation of medical waste. Reports indicate that while 10 to 12 vehicles are needed for this task, the company operates with only two. This leads to difficulties in collecting waste and delivering it to the designated location. During long-distance transportation, breakdowns or traffic jams can leave waste-laden vehicles stranded for hours, making timely disposal challenging.

According to medical professionals, improper scientific disposal of biomedical waste can lead to the spread of infections like Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, and HIV. Inadequate management of contaminated needles, used medical supplies, and infected waste also risks polluting soil, groundwater, and the environment. There is an urgent need to establish a Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) in Kaimur to provide a permanent solution, enabling scientific disposal of waste locally and reducing reliance on long-distance transportation.