IMAGE is planning to set up one research centre with consent from Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHAS) to facilitate training on Biomedical waste management solutions & also for training health care workers across the Kerala on safe handling & proper segregation of Biomedical waste. We have also initiated discussion with KUHAS on starting Paramedical Courses related to Biomedical Waste Management.
The IMAGE Plant at Palakkad was established as a health industry wide response to a crisis situation in the handling of biomedical waste management and has taken the burden of handling a large capacity of average 36 tonnes of biomedical waste per day using a fleet of 53 vehicles covering 10,000 kms per day. However, due to the immense pressure felt on the facility at Palakkad, owing to the humungous volume of bio medical waste being brought into the facility on a daily basis, the current situation is not ideal for the state especially with its unique geographical layout, road congestions and high density of health care beds. The current model has inherent risks of potential accidents with resultant spills of toxic biomedical waste and also higher transportation and handling costs to transport waste from southern and northern parts of the state. It is well understood from experience and published studies that there is increased efficiency and safety in handling biomedical waste with in specific geographical clusters itself. Also a risk mitigation strategy for a scenario of shutting down of the current plant in Palakkad due to unforeseen circumstances like a natural calamity which would lead to pile up on biomedical waste across the state due to lack of an alternate facility. Thus IMAGE itself has advocated the concept of creating a more decentralized approach with division of the state into zones for logistical purposes and more efficiency in handling of biomedical waste.
There is an increased growth in bed capacities in Kochi hospitals adding over 700-800 tertiary care beds per year in average. Ernakulam District is the largest district which generates the highest quantity of biomedical waste in the state. Also there is an additional scenario of increasing quantity of biomedical waste being generated at domestic level. A recent study by Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) has identified increasing issues of disposal of this waste especially in large apartment complexes. IMAGE proposes to build its second Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) in Kerala in Ernakulum district. This is a as a part of the overall vision of IMAGE to create a facility each in four zones created for logistical purposes; there by bringing in optimal Bio-medical waste treatment facilities in Kerala.
The Government of Kerala has allotted 3 acres land to IMA at Brahammapuram, Kochi vide order G.O.(MS)No.295/15/LSGD dated TVM-23.09.2015 to set up a Common Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility. Since the land is in the possession of Kochi Corporation, it is pending allotment by the Corporation. Once the land is formally handed over by cochin corporation, apllications for clearence from appropriate authorities can be processed.
IMAGE bought 7 acres of land at Elavupalam, Palode to establish a Common Bio medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in revenue land, to cater to the southern districts of Trivandrum, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. Applications were moved with the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and Department of Forest for necessary consents to establish the new facility. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board granted consent on 06.12.2012 for three year period. Now the project is awaiting final Environmental Clearence from SEIAA
Apart from availing the benefits of scientific disposal of highly infectious biomedical waste from their premises, all affiliate institutions can draw upon the various value added services offered by IMAGE like,
1.) Offering advice and assistance in procuring materials like needle destroyers, barcoded/colour coded bags, sharp containers, bnstruction labels on biomedical waste safe handling & segregation, colour coded buckets & storage containers etc. as per the specifications under the BMW M Rules 2016
2.) Affiliated institutions are provided with necessary Annual Reports & Certificates* regarding the quantity of biomedical waste collected and disposed from their institution, enabling them to file mandatory returns before the Kerala State Pollution Control Board
3.) Affiliation to IMAGE is mandatory for getting valid license from the local self governments for running the health care institutions.
