Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Jan 13(KNS): A video showing bundles of allegedly expired medicines being burnt inside the premises of District Hospital Bandipora has sparked serious concerns over biomedical waste disposal practices and official accountability in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The video, which surfaced on social media and has since gone viral, shows large quantities of medicine packets set ablaze in the open behind the hospital’s oxygen plant. According to local sources, the medicines were destroyed in open air, raising alarm over potential health and environmental hazards.
Residents and health activists termed the act a blatant violation of biomedical waste management rules. “Burning medicines in open air within a hospital compound is extremely dangerous and unacceptable. Such practices pose serious risks to public health and the environment,” a local resident said, adding that similar incidents have reportedly occurred in the past.
Although it could not be independently verified whether all the medicines seen in the video were expired, the visuals have intensified questions on why such drugs were not disposed of through authorised biomedical waste handlers, as mandated under established health and pharmaceutical waste management norms.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Sources further revealed that soon after the video surfaced, Senitizer was allegedly sprayed on the bundles to ensure quick destruction. They also claimed that authorities were initially planning to burn larger quantities of medicines, but after the footage went viral, remaining stocks were hurriedly concealed.
Repeated attempts to seek clarification from the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Bandipora yielded no response, as he was not available in office.
However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora, Dr Ishtiyaq, told that he would verify the matter. Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, also said that she would look into the incident.
The episode has once again brought the handling, storage, and disposal of medicines at government health institutions in Bandipora under the scanner, with locals demanding a transparent inquiry and strict action against those found responsible.(KNS).