R1MC to city: Monitor also private hospitals’ wastes
THE Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan has challenged the city government to monitor the disposal of biological wastes not just of the government-owned hospital but all private hospitals in the city.
Dr. Roland Mejia, chief of R1MC, made the call amid reports and accusation hurled by city officials of inappropriate handling of biological wastes in the city, particularly by R1MC, the biggest hospital in the city.
“It is not good to always point an accusing finger to the biggest hospital in the area when in fact there are also private hospitals around that may not be disposing their biological wastes properly,” Mejia said as he stressed that R1MC is properly disposing of its biological wastes in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH).
Mejia said R1MC maintains a concrete decaying vault, which it installed in its lot in Bonuan Binloc, where all its biological wastes, including blood, tissues and amputated body parts, are disposed.
“We cannot violate what is prescribed to us by DOH because we are a DOH-run hospital,” the doctor said.
The vault of the R1MC was even cited by the DOH as a model for all hospitals in Dagupan, Pangasinan and Region 1, he added.
Mejia said the City Health Office should investigate whether private hospitals are also maintaining similar decaying vaults to ensure that their biological wastes are properly handled.
“If these private hospitals are employing private companies to collect and dispose of their biological wastes, these companies must be investigated on where they are disposing biological wastes,” he said.
At the same time, Mejia urged the city government to install a CCTV (closed-circuit television) system at its dumpsite to be able to establish more concrete proofs on who is really dumping biological wastes at its dumpsite.
PERSONNEL
Mejia also pointed out that R1MC employs duly trained personnel that handle infectious wastes.
“Biological wastes need to be handled carefully,” Mejia said, “as they are infectious and could affect the health of the population, thus must be kept in a concrete decaying vault that could last for a life time.”
R1MC’s decaying vault is prescribed for a 300-bed capacity hospital and it is currently setting up a second one in preparation for the center’s expansion to a 600-bed capacity.
Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia filed a bill in Congress for the expansion, which is now being discussed in the Senate.
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