An employee from a medical university in Hanoi may face criminal charges for the unauthorized dumping of untreated medical waste, said Health Ministry Chief Investigator Tran Quang Trung.

The waste, carried in two nylon bags weighing nearly 30 kilograms (66pounds), contained human body parts including stomachs, uteri, gallbladders, livers, and amputated limbs.

Quan said the waste originated from his department and that he had been assigned to dispose of it at Bach Mai Hospital’s Pathology and Cytopathology Center.

Instead, he discarded the waste at the Transportation Hospital’s dumping area as he had to stop there to collect other medical waste, Quan said.

Tran Van Hop – head of the Pathology and Cytopathology

Department where Quan works – said the university had signed a contract with Agriculture Hospital No.1 and the Transportation Hospital to collect their medical waste for research.

Hop confirmed that Quan had been assigned to drop off the untreated medical waste at Bach Mai Hospital, not the Transportation Hospital.

The university department disposes around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of medical waste per month but does not have any signed contracts with agencies specializing in medical waste treatment, including the Bach Mai Hospital. Hop admitted there are several shortcomings in staff management and has proposed the university cut Quan’s bonuses for the year.

Quan’s actions were unacceptable, especially for a staff member who works in the health industry, Trung said.

Before imposing penalties on Quan, health officials will analyze the results of tests being conducted on the waste by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and hold a meeting to discuss the issue, said Trung.

Source: SGGP