Shanghai to Set up Company to Treat Medical Waste

Home>>Life

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 09, 2002

Shanghai to Set up Company to Treat Medical Waste

A company will soon be established in east China's Shanghai Municipality through public tender in a bid to better tackle mounting medical waste in local hospitals, Monday's China Daily reported.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A company will soon be established in east China's Shanghai Municipality through public tender in a bid to better tackle mounting medical waste in local hospitals, Monday's China Daily reported.

The new method is expected to better protect local residents from the threat of possibly infectious waste, according to city officials.

Statistics show the amount of medical waste totals 20,000 tons annually in Shanghai. At present, local hospitals are in charge of dealing with the waste, posing a hidden threat to the environment due to lack of appropriate treatment equipment and technology.

An survey shows 42 percent of checked clinics in Shanghai's suburbs failed to destroy used disposable medical apparatus as required by regulations, and 49 percent did not sterilize the apparatus after usage.

It is necessary to set up a specialized establishment to carry out standardized treatment and management of medical waste, said an official with the local Shuguang Hospital.

The abuilding company will specialize in the collection and treatment of medical waste from local hospitals, which is mainly made up of used disposable medical apparatus and instruments, human organs after operations and garbage generated by patients.

Earning will come from fees charged hospitals for the third-party waste treatment. Portions of fees may be passed on to patients.

Whoever generates the waste that may harm the environment should pay the bill, and whoever is engaged in the waste treatmentcan benefit, mainly in economic terms, from what they do, according to Vice Mayor Jiang Yiren.

Several domestic companies and one from Hong Kong have shown strong interest in involving in the new waste-treatment project, local sources say.

Shanghai city's environmental protection bureau is expected to work out specific treatment standards and city-level regulations to better guide the new company, officials say.

In addition to Shanghai, east China's Zhejiang Province and south China's Guangdong Province are also trying market-driven efforts in handling medical wastes.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)