PUNE: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani or Homeopathy clinics are now in the purview of biomedical waste rules, which means that they should have the facility of scientifically disposing of such waste.
Officials of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have already started giving information on such health care units working in the civilian areas for effective implementation of norms.
However, the operators of non-allopathy centres argued that their inclusion in biomedical waste regulations was unregulated. There are about 20,000 doctors of Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Unani Medicine in the city, where only non-allopathy treatment is provided.
“There are some treatments and treatment methods, which produce biomedical waste in non-allopathy health care units. We want them to find the registration of general biomedical waste treatment facilities to ensure the unscientific disposal of such waste. “Amar Scientist, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief of Biomedical Waste Management, MPCB has asked TOI Told.
Mandir Ranade, the chief Ayurvedic expert of Medico-Legal Cell in the National Integrated Medical Association, India Chapter, said, “If the norms apply to doctors of homoeopathy and Ayurveda, then these criteria will work without any purpose. Barring Panchakarma therapy, which produces certain amounts of biomedical waste, none of the other forms of treatment produces any such waste. Similarly, Greek and proven clinics do not produce biomedical waste. “
Homoeopath Mahesh Vayal, president, Maharashtra Homoeopathic Doctors Association said, “New bio-medical waste standards are not completely applicable to the practitioners of pure homoeopathy. Homoeopathy doctors practice modern medicine, however, biomedicine in various forms Produce waste. “
Public Health Specialist, Manisha Naik, Assistant Medical Officer of Pune Municipal Corporation’s Health Department, said, “We will have to take guidance from the MPCB officials about new norms because some standards are not very clear.”
Activist Sanjay Dabhade said, “MPCB and PMC officials should first ensure that all the Allopathy clinics and hospitals are scientifically disposing of their biomedical waste before bringing norms for non-allopathy centres.”
