From: Ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: Policy & regulations
Date: 25 Aug 2008
Time: 10:41:22 +0200
Remote Name: 86.146.8.18
Over recent months, I have been reviewing issues surrounding the regulation of clinical waste management and disposal practice in India, and to a lesser extent in Pakistan. In addition to the formal review of several official guides, some locally produced documentation and training guides, and descriptive several research papers I cannot overlook the huge number of press reports.
Presently, standards of waste management are generally appalling. Though many individuals are working tremendously hard to make it work, the overall situation is little improved from its previously unregulated situation. What concerns me is the adoption of standards and policies 'borrowed' from more developed regions. These simply do not translate. There is no money, no infrastructure and no training. Regulators posture and threaten prosecution - reminiscent of the 70s in the UK - with little evidence of setting achievable targets or having a basic understanding of the transitional issues that make a sudden change in regulation almost impossible in circumstances where previously no regulation had existed. It all makes very depressing reading.
But change is happening, and those who are working in the field, developing manageable waste policies and focussing on education and training to encourage compliance deserve our support.