THE report pertaining to hospital waste (June 2) highlighted a grave danger being faced by society today. A blatant disregard and unscrupulous disposal of hospital waste poses a threat to environment.

It was mentioned in the report that as many as 170 health facilities dispose of the waste with municipal throwaway and also in sewerage.

A vast majority of hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad do not even have incinerators for waste disposal. In this context it is pertinent to highlight that the Rawal Medical and Dental Hospital (RGDH), Islamabad, has an operational incinerator. Although this involves considerable finances and manpower efforts, the RGDH is committed to adopt the best and safest medical practice and opposed to any illegal and unethicaldisposal of waste.

The Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005,is aneffective policyfor disposalof medical waste. Implementating the same would go a long way in eradicating the hazards caused byunscrupulous disposal of infectious hospital waste.

Cmdre(r)AzirMumtaz Director, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences Rawalpindi