The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued rates to be charged for collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of COVID-19 waste generated from HCEs, isolation wards, quarantine centers, camps, home quarantine, home care facilities, collection centers, testing laboratories.
Following are the key highlights of the guidelines:
• As per the guidelines of 2003, in Para J it was stated that the cost to be charged from the healthcare units shall be worked out in consultation with the SPCB/Pollution Control Committee and the local medical association
• As per the guidelines of 2014 there were fixed rates which were to be charged by the operator of the Common Bio-medical waste Treatment Facilities from the Health Care Facilities for collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste
• As per the guidelines of 2016 it was recommended that the cost to be charged from the healthcare units must depend on the size, number of beds and the distance from the location of CBWTF and same shall be worked out in consultation with the concerned SPCB/PCC and the local medical association
• The treatment and disposal of the waste generated during treatment/diagnosis/quarantine of COVID-19 patients is to be collected, segregated, transported, treated and disposed of separately than the bio-medical waste to be generated from other patients.
• The COVID 19 waste is to be collected on a daily basis.
• It has specified the monthly rates to be charged from HCFs generating COVID-19 waste regularly according to the number of pages.
• It has specified the allowable maximum quantity of COVID-19 waste included in rates.
• Rates as per visit to be charged from the HCFs generating COVID-19 waste incidentally or occasionally.
The order shall come into force from immediate effect.
[Order No. 546]
