*Many labs lack proper biomedical waste disposal system
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 21: The Bakshi Nagar-Mahesh Pura area of the city has become a hub of diagnostic laboratories and other such clinics with almost none of these having any parking facility due to which the visitors park their vehicles along roadside which in turn results in traffic jams on the busy Government Medical College (GMC) road. Also many of the diagnostic labs in this area lack proper facility for the disposal of bio-medical wastes.
After some used syringes and other such wastes were found outside some diagnostic labs in Bakshi Nagar area, the people living there expressed resentment saying that children may get infection on touching or fiddling with such biomedical wastes.
Also the people visiting Jammu from far flung areas like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar etc for specialized treatment mostly find stark differences for the same laboratory investigation done by different diagnostic laboratories.
An insider at GMC Jammu informed that some patients undergoing treatment at the GMC and other adjoining hospitals prefer their diagnostic tests from outside also to cross check the results.
Still others claimed prevalence of commission culture for getting lab investigations from outside.
Councillor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Gourav Chopra of Ward number 28 (Bakshi Nagar area) said those running most of these diagnostic laboratories have no knowledge that they have to get permission from JMC and Health Department for starting such a facility.
“They continue opening new diagnostic laboratories or ultrasound centers in Bakshi Nagar area as the GMC, Chest Diseases Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital and the newly constructed Bone and Joint Hospital are in the vicinity,” he maintained adding: “The concerned authorities should see if these laboratories and other diagnostic centers have proper permission and qualified staff.”
The Councillor further said that the authorities should also see that these clinics have no facility for parking vehicles of the visiting patients.
“Even there are places where in a single street one may find 4-5 such clinics,” he continued adding that traffic scenario near such places mostly remains pathetic.
When contacted Jammu City Mayor, Rajinder Sharma said that all the diagnostic laboratories and other such clinics are bound to follow the laid safety norms regarding disposal of biomedical wastes.
“The JMC will soon ask these centers regarding arrangements they have put in place for the disposal of their biomedical wastes and the erring centers will face proper action as per the law,” he further said.
On these clinics having no parking facility for the visiting patients, which results in traffic jams especially in Bakshi Nagar area, Sharma said that JMC will also look into this issue.
Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Rajiv Sharma when contacted informed that all the diagnostic laboratories need proper permission for starting the facility.
When asked do these labs and other diagnostic centers have well trained staff to perform diagnostic tests, he said: “If there is some specific written complaint, it will be looked into and the erring diagnostic centre may face strict action.”
Dr. Sharma further said that due to short distance from GMC Jammu and other nearby hospitals such centers have emerged in Bakshi Nagar area in large numbers but they need a proper license to function.
“I will ask the officers concerned to conduct a check in Bakshi Nagar area to see if any of the centers there are functioning without license,” he added.
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