The state develops a plan through a revamped IHFMS for improved management of biomedical waste and sanitation.
Hyderabad: The State government recently announced a number of initiatives that are anticipated to help with the difficult chore of providing good cleanliness and upkeep of bio-medical waste management in government hospitals throughout Telangana.
In addition to launching the construction of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in major tertiary government hospitals in Hyderabad and the surrounding areas, the State government has developed a plan to improve the maintenance of hospital beds through a revised Integrated Hospital Facility Management Services (IHFMS).
The Telangana government increased the monthly maintenance fee for a hospital bed in all government hospitals from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500 as part of the implementation of IHFMS. The IHFMS mandates that sanitation employees at government hospitals get a minimum monthly wage of Rs 15,600, up from the previous level of Rs 9,000, to guarantee that they are paid fairly. The IHFMS also mandates that outside organisations make sure to staff government hospitals with a minimum of 45 people per 100 beds. The superintendents of government hospitals have been given the authority to oversee the organisations and take prompt corrective action in the event of service deficiencies in order to ensure thorough quality inspections.
“The leftover funds should be utilised to purchase reagents and consumables after deducting the pay component. For instance, the total monthly funding approved for a hospital with 100 beds is Rs. 7,50,000, or Rs. 7,500 per bed. The IHFMS rules indicated that the minimum salary for 45 employees is Rs 7,02,000. The rest Rs 48, 000 must be used to purchase reagents and consumables.
STPs
In addition to adopting IHFMS, the State government also decided to create 20 STPs in as many tertiary hospitals at a cost of Rs 134.46 crore in an effort to enhance maintenance in government hospitals. A total of Rs 68.31 crore would be paid from funds approved by the State government to Telangana State Pollution Control Board out of the sanctioned Rs 134.46 crore (TSPSCB).
Nearly all significant public hospitals in Hyderabad and other regions will have their own independent STPs so they are not dependent on outside organisations to handle their biological waste. The STPs’ construction-related activities are now under way and should be completed in the upcoming months. In accordance with the Biomedical Waste Rules, 2016, and its revisions, the Health Department shall establish a pre-treatment facility for laboratory, operation theatre (OT), and laundry washings before allowing into STP and shall also fulfil the outlet discharge criteria.
