ANNOUNCEMENTS
According to Indian Law, Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, Biomedical Waste is “Any waste which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological.” There is a high risk of improper segregation of waste which must be segregated at source and proper measure has to be taken for containment and transport so to not affect the handlers. Sophisticated equipments are necessary to solve this problem. COVID-19 has severely affected the already stressed waste management of Biomedical Waste. There are several international conventions working in this area: Basel Convention, The Stockholm Convention, Aarhus Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, WHO guidance and Minimata convention. India has laws like Constitutional provisions and Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. The major problem in was seen to be mixing of Biomedical Waste with Municipal Waste. There is also a need to train the health worker for the effective disposal of waste. India has tried to solve the problem by the government initiatives. India has made an App called the Covid19BWM to track the waste. There is also a video made to educate the people about the ill effects of this waste. However, government and NGO should take a step forward for the segregation and proper collection of Biomedical Waste. There is also need of more infrastructures to solve the problem.
