Patients at risk due to improper waste disposal of 7 Bulacan hospitals, COA says

The Commission on Audit (COA) has warned that the improper waste disposal and irregular garbage collection in seven public hospitals in Bulacan pose risks to the health of its patients, employees and the public.

"Hazardous and infectious wastes generated by seven district hospitals were not regularly collected from six months to one year, thus exposed hospital patients, health workers and the general public to the danger of human wastes, infectious diseases and other toxic wastes," the COA said in its 2018 audit report.

State auditors called this a "major setback" and blamed the provincial government for transferring the responsibility of waste disposal to the General Services Office, instead of the Bulacan Environmental Natural Resources Office (BENRO).

"As a result, oversight on the quality assurance process on overall solid waste management was not effectively discharged as the latter office performed mainly quarrying and revenue generation activities. No specific department or office was charged with solid waste and hospital waste management," the report said.

The hospitals named in the audit include the Bulacan Medical Center for illegal dumping site and delays in the collection of medical wastes; the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital for its uncollected garbage that has become visible outside of hospital grounds; and the Emilio G. Perez Memorial District Hospital due to its unorganized garbage bins.

On the other hand, the COA praised the Gregorio Del Pilas District Hospital (GDPDH), Baliuag District Hospital, San Miguel District Hospital, and Calumpit District Hospital for their "organized handling of hospital wastes."

However, the COA said garbage hauler Cleanway failed to collect the wastes of these hospitals between six months to almost one year.

The COA said GDPDH also lacked the sustainable space for its waste disposal, noting the garbage is currently stored in the second floor balcony of the hospital.

It said these lapses constitutes a violation of Republic Act No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act, and Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Local governments are required to create an environmental and natural resources office under RA 8749, while RA 9003 mandates the protection of the public health and the environment through a comprehensive solid waste management program.

The audit agency directed the office of Governor and now vice governor-elect Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, who received the report on April 5, to require the BENRO and the chief of hospitals to implement a proper solid waste and hospital care management.

The COA also urged the province to review the Department of Health Manual on Health Care Management which provides the proper disposal of health care wastes.

The provincial government may also consider finding separate service providers for each hospital, the COA said.

In response, the management said it will adhere to the COA recommendations. It also said the BENRO has already started an assessment of the waste management of all hospitals. —LDF, GMA News