China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) issued
an emergency circular Tuesday to strengthen the regulation and
supervision of hospital emissions of medical waste.
The circular said that during a time when efforts are being made to
prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),
the priority for all environmental protection departments at
various levels is to cut off any path through which the virus could
possibly spread and to prevent recontamination through the medical
waste from SARS patients.
The SEPA asked that the normal functioning of handling and treating
facilities of medical waste should be ensured, and a special
supervision and tracing system will be established for hospitals
treating SARS patients.
The SEPA circular also demanded that medical emissions be put under
more strict and more frequent monitoring, and the waste that does
not undergo treatment or reach the emission standards is banned
from being discharged from hospitals.
According to the circular, a reporting mechanism will also be set
up throughout the country. It stressed that while efforts are being
made to prevent SARS, any medical or environmental problems should
be reported immediately to the local government and relevant
environmental departments.
(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2003)