|
Biomedical Waste Causes 10-15% Infections Among Public
In AP
The biomedical waste generated from hospitals causes 10-15 % infections
in Andhra Pradesh, revealed a survey released by Multipurpose Awareness Society
in Hyderabad.
There are about 6600 hospitals across Andhra Pradesh generating 2166 tonnes of
bio-hazard waste every day. Most of these hospitals are resorting to
inappropriate methods and letting the hazardous waste either in the regular
drainages or disposing them in open bins along with solid wastes.
According to Boda Nageswar, president of Multipurpose Awareness Society,
majority of hospitals in the state are unmindful of the environment and throw
their biomedical hazardous wastes in open bins and waste water drains without
treating it, because of which 10-15 % of infections are caused by the bio
hazardous wastes in the state. “With no proper training to hospital staff and no
dedicated work force to pick and dispose biomedical waste generated in the
hospitals, there is a high risk of infections caused by used up needles and
blades,” said Nageswar.
Usually hospitals generate different kinds of wastes from outpatient, inpatient,
emergency wards and operation theatres.
The wastes generated in the testing laboratories also add to it. Most of the
biomedical hazardous wastes constitute used-up needles, blades, stained
bandages, used-up IV fluid pipes, polythene bags, apart from wastes like cut-off
body parts, etc.
According to the Biomedical Wastes Hazard Act, all the generated waste from the
hospitals should be segregated and accordingly packed in white, red and yellow
boxes or bags and should be marked in bold ‘bio-hazard-waste’ on the pack before
disposing it off. All such wastes should be first disintegrated using
incinerators, autoclaves and microwaves before burying them in the soil.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated February 20, 2014)
Indian Pharma Industry To Make 27% Growth By 2016: Deloitte
Report
India’s pharmaceutical sales, worth 22.6 billion dollar in 2012, is expected to
register 27 % growth to reach 27 bn dollar by 2016, according to the Deloitte
2014 Global Life Sciences Outlook report.
“India’s pharmaceutical sales were $22.6 bn in 2012. They are expected to rise
to $23.6 bn in 2013 and reach $27.0 bn in 2016. As a % of health care
expenditures, pharmaceutical sales were 22.6 % in 2012; they are expected to
reach 23.6 % in 2013 and 27% by 2016,” says the report.
Despite heightened regulatory scrutiny, continued pricing pressures and another
year of impacts from health care reform in many countries, the global life
sciences sector is exhibiting resilience and reinvention as it employs new R&D
and business models to cost-effectively deliver innovation, value, and improved
patient outcomes, as per the report.
It says that India has a fragmented life sciences industry, with stiff price
competition, government price controls, and limited availability of
infrastructure. Nonetheless, MNCs are increasing their operations in India and
creating opportunities to drive industry growth in the country.
India is among the top five pharmaceutical emerging markets. The double
digit growth registered by India’s life sciences and health care industry can be
attributed to several socio-economic factors, including increasing sales of
generic medicines, continued growth in chronic therapies, and a greater
penetration in rural markets. Other growth drivers are heightened health
awareness, increasing affluence, changing lifestyles resulting in higher
incidence of lifestyle diseases, increasing government expenditure on health
care, and a nascent, yet fast growing health insurance industry. In addition,
the nation’s low cost of production and R&D boosts the efficiency of Indian
pharmaceutical companies and its comparative cost advantage enhances Indian
pharmaceutical exports, according to the report.
“The worldwide demand for cost-effective generic drugs is leading India to rise
as a hub of generic drug manufacturing. India accounts for over 10 % of global
pharmaceutical production, with over 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic
categories; it manufactures more than 400 different APIs. The country is the
front-runner in a wide range of specialties involving the manufacture of complex
drugs,” it says.
“A number of pharmaceutical companies are increasing their operations in India,
which has 119 manufacturing sites approved by the US FDA, the highest in any
foreign country. The main focus of the Indian companies is on countries with
aging populations such as Japan, Africa, and Latin America, which need cheaper
drugs. It is estimated that Indian companies will benefit by about $40 billion
as 46 US drug patents expire in 2012-15,” it adds.
“Despite the exponential growth, India’s life sciences and health care industry
still faces challenges. The outcome of new product patents, drug price control,
poor regulatory enforcement, inadequate health care infrastructure, shortage of
skilled workforce, increasing patient expectations, ever-changing technology,
and quality management and conformance to global standards act as critical
barriers in delivering products and services in a sustainable manner,” according
to the report.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated March 27, 2014) Mar.-Apr. 2014)
|
