In an age where hygiene-conscious individuals scrub their cutlery, the reality of hospital waste smuggling is alarming, as it threatens the safety of meals prepared at home. Many remain unaware that their beloved dinner sets may be crafted from recycled hospital waste, including the remnants of used urine bags. This disturbing trend highlights the rampant issue of hospital waste smuggling in Punjab, which poses significant risks to public health.
The Punjab government’s failure to control the theft and improper disposal of hospital waste, particularly plastic waste, has resulted in the manufacturing and sale of hazardous products made from stolen medical materials. This negligence has the potential to spark a serious public health emergency.
A report from the Punjab Health Department reveals that hospitals generate over 300 kilograms of medical waste daily. Of this waste, a staggering 71% is plastic, while 13% is glass, 5.7% is cotton and dressings, and the remaining 0.4% includes gloves and diapers. Most of this waste originates from infectious areas such as laboratories, cancer wards, and emergency departments, further amplifying the health risks associated with improper disposal.
Mushtaq Ahmed, a scrap and junk dealer, disclosed that many hospitals sell their plastic waste—ranging from drips to syringes—to scrap dealers. “We resell these medical leftovers for profit. It’s difficult to trace where these items end up or how they are utilized,” Ahmed said, shrugging off the gravity of the situation.
Worryingly, Muhammad Sabir, an Associate Professor of Medical Education at a private medical college, noted that 30% to 40% of the plastic hospital waste is allegedly stolen and repurposed into low-cost plastic utensils sold in the market. This recycled plastic includes used drip sets, injections, urine bags, gloves, feeding tubes, and more. In Punjab, which houses around 50 public and over 1,000 private hospitals, the issue of hospital waste smuggling continues to escalate.
According to Naseemur Rehman Shah, Director of the Environment Protection Department, hospitals are supposed to dispose of waste through two approved methods as per the Hospital Waste Management Rules of 2014: burning or burying. “However, these guidelines are frequently ignored. Hospitals have been directed to dispose of their waste at the source to prevent theft and reduce the spread of germs during transportation.
Yet, plastic waste is often stolen and sold during transit, crushed, and recycled into low-quality products such as glasses and utensils, which are harmful to health,” Naseemur Rehman Shah explained. He also mentioned that the department has recommended establishing disposal facilities at the source, but implementation is still pending.
It is noteworthy that the Punjab government has partnered with the Lahore Waste Management Company, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority to develop a joint plan. This initiative includes the installation of incinerators in Lahore and 26 districts to manage nearly 160,000 kilograms of medical waste each month.
Speaking to the Express Tribune about these initiatives, former Special Secretary of Secondary Health and Medical Education Raja Mansoor Ahmed stated that the government is actively installing more incinerators in hospitals.
“Efforts are underway to enhance waste management, and training will be provided to hospital staff to prevent waste theft and misuse. The government and Punjab Health Department are committed to ensuring proper waste disposal and raising awareness about the dangers of using cheap plastic products,” Mushtaq Ahmed asserted.
