TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Health announced that there is 290 tons of medical waste produced by hospitals and healthcare services on a daily basis with 220 tons processed at medical waste treatment plants. This leaves the remaining 70 tons to be improperly managed.

The ministry’s directorate-general of public healthcare’s head of environmental health Imran Agus Nurali stated that the number is still particularly significant. The 290 tons come from 2,820 hospitals and 9,884 healthcare centers across Indonesia.

“That doesn’t include clinics, transfusion units, and pharmacies. These waste treatment plants are still at its bare minimum and with limited processing capacity,” said Imran at the Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, on Thursday, August 15.

As of now, Indonesia has 10 officially permitted treatment plants that can accommodate wastes up to 170 tons daily. Meanwhile, there are only 87 hospitals equipped with incinerators enabling self-waste treatment with a daily capacity of 60 tons.

“There is still 74 tons of medical waste pile gap on a daily basis that is yet to be properly managed,” says Agus.

Secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Hospitals (Persi) Lia Gardenia Partakusuma says that waste management is essential to prevent harmful social and environmental effects. Therefore, it would greatly be helpful if hospitals are equipped with in-house treatment facilities.

MUH. SYAIFULLAH (CONTRIBUTOR)