Kathmandu: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has suspended waste collection services from four hospitals starting this Sunday. The affected hospitals include Shaheed Memorial Hospital and Nepal National Hospital in Kalanki, as well as Dirghayu Guru Hospital and Om Hospital in Chabahil, as confirmed by KMC landfill site in-charge engineer Sarkardeep Shrestha.

The decision follows a KMC assessment of the waste management systems in these health facilities, revealing non-compliance with existing regulations. In response, the hospitals have been directed to submit a plan outlining the decontamination of infectious waste, documentation related to waste management commitments made during hospital registration and operation, and details of organizations involved in waste management, to the Environmental Management Department of the KMC.

Engineer Shrestha emphasized that the responsibility for decontaminating infected waste lies with the producers, and hospitals should establish the necessary infrastructure and mechanisms for effective waste management on their premises.

Over the past two weeks, the KMC has consistently monitored hospital waste management and provided instructions to enhance its effectiveness. According to the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS (2017), local governments are empowered to regulate sanitary waste collection, processing, disposal, and service fees. The legislation also grants local authorities the right to penalize health institutions failing to manage medical waste in accordance with existing laws.