The Tribune

THE Public Hospitals Authority announced on Friday that it had completed its investigation into the improper disposal of biohazardous waste at the New Providence Landfill, and has introduced several measures at the Princess Margaret Hospital to mitigate against this infraction.

A statement released by the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) said the investigation determined that the refuse originated from PMH and was not prepared according to international guidelines. PHA also confirmed that investigators found that PMH documents were also found among the disposed refuse.

As a direct result of this infraction, PMH, along with Bahamas Waste assisted with remediation efforts by providing disinfectant chemicals, pressurised chemical dispersion canisters, personal protective equipment and technical advice regarding exposure management and decontamination of waste, PHA’s statement said.

“Subsequently, senior management of the Princess Margaret Hospital met with Renew Bahamas and an ex gratia offer of $10,000 was extended to Renew to cover cost associated with all remedial efforts to move and clean up the cited area.”

Renew Bahamas is the private company contracted to remedy the problems at the landfill.

“Later, the PHA was once again made aware of allegations which suggested that bio-hazardous waste originating at the Princess Margaret Hospital was illegally dumped at the landfill,” PHA’s statement added.

“. . . On arrival at the area which was reportedly identified as the space where the bio-hazardous waste was dumped, there was no evidence of waste in the designated area. Additionally, the reported date of the second alleged infraction as reported by Renew, does not correspond with the documented service record provided by Bahamas Waste Management regarding the dates of collection during that period from the Princess Margaret Hospital.”

PHA added that PMH does not deposit waste directly at the landfill and that all waste is collected at a designated centralised point from the hospital.

“The hospital retains a contract with Bahamas Waste Management Limited for the collection and disposal of all bio-hazardous waste,” PHA’s statement added. “Bahamas Waste Management according to the PHA investigation is the only company on the island who would have the proper equipment and facility to treat and dispose of bio-hazardous waste.”

PHA said its investigation also revealed that the holding station at PMH “has been illegally used by entities to dispose of medical and bio-hazardous waste.”

PHA said it will pursue legal action against anyone found disposing waste at PMH and that enhanced security measures inclusive of CCTV are being implemented. PMH has also engaged a safety manager who now has direct oversight for the monitoring of refuse, in particular bio-hazardous waste.

PHA has also notified the Ministry of Health of its concerns with regards to the illegal dumping of bio-hazardous waste at PMH and “has urged that priority be given in collaborating with other government entities in carrying out a more extensive investigation into this illegal practice.”

PHA also said that the “indiscriminate disposal” of any hospital record is a very serious concern.

“The PHA assures that when there is evidence to support that staff have engaged in this practice, the authority will not hesitate to enact the prescribed disciplinary action within the framework of PHA policies.”

PHA said public hospitals and clinics are moving to an electronic medical record system, which employs a paperless system to avoid related incidences and safeguards patient privacy.

In July, it was reported officials at the dump were trying to determine how untreated biohazardous waste, including AIDS and hepatitis waste, made it to the dump site.