Place On Record SOP For Disposal Of Used PPE Kits : Karnataka HC To State [Read Petition]

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to place on record Standard Operating Procedure or Guidelines issued for disposal of used PPE kits and accessories used by people who are dealing with Covid-19 patients.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi directed the registry to place the petition filed by Advocate K B Vijayakumar for hearing along with a batch of petitions regarding availability of medical facilities for Covid-19 patients in the state. The court also directed the state government to submit the SOP for disposal of PPE kits. It said "We will examine whether guidelines are laid down and accordingly dispose of the petition."

Vijayakumar appearing in person argued that people are throwing the mask and gloves on roads and pourakarmikas are also not picking them up thus posing a huge risk. In the petition it is said that "It is not just in the hospitals where patients are admitted or checked, but PPEs are used by sanitary staff, ambulance drivers, assistants, people involved in disposal of dead bodies of corona infected patients, health workers checking people in bus stations, railway stations and airports, health personal in private hospitals and so on. The number of PPE kits and various other sterile clothes, accessories that may have been used till date are huge in number. Their inappropriate disposal causes extreme risk to the citizens as the virus is told to be airborne as well.

The plea prays for directions to the Chief Secretary, State of Karnataka, the Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to issue formulate a Standard Operating Procedure for the appropriate disposal of used PPE Kits and other accessories by health care personnel, sanitary workers in private and public hospitals, ambulance drivers and assistants, people involved in transport and disposal of dead bodies and those at the crematorium / burial grounds, ASHA workers and all involved in some form of Corona Care.

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