Hospital flouts medical waste norms, fined Rs 1L

Ghaziabad: Flores Hospital in Ghaziabad has been imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for violating bio-medical waste norms. Following a penalty on the Le Crest hospital, this hospital in Pratap Vihar has been issued a show-cause notice.
Mithelesh Kumar, district health officer, said: “We found the violations in a surprise inspection on Monday evening. We also saw that the hospital has put up a ‘no vacancy’ signboard. When we checked the records, we found that 18 ICU/ventilator beds to be vacant. We have issued a show-cause notice to the hospital and the matter has been informed to the health department for necessary action, which might also result in cancellation of the hospital’s licence.”
Flores Hospital is a 100-bed facility and also has 20 ICU/ventilator beds. Dr Manoj Singh of Flores Hospital did not respond to calls for a comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, the inspection team had also found similar violations in Palliative Care Hospital in Govindpuram. “We had recommended the cancellation of license of the hospital and the health department has done so,” said Kumar. “The hospital will, however, continue to treat patients but have been ordered not to admit new patients,” added Kumar. The Palliative Care hospital has 30 general beds and 14 ICU/ventilator beds.
As per the directive from the administration, every hospital is required to put up a list of occupancy and vacancy, including ICU/ventilator beds. “They have also been instructed to maintain a logbook with these details. Also, medicine and oxygen stocks have to be updated and shared with the nodal officer in charge of the area every hour,” said Kumar.
“Apart from this, the surprise inspections will continue and any hospital found to be indulging in any malpractice will be penalised,” added Kumar.