Gujarat Health Department is investigating the role of about seven companies which could be involved in the recycling of the biomedical waste, health department officials said on Sunday.
"We are investigating companies who could be involved in recycling of biomedical waste across the country. There are some seven companies whose names have cropped up during investigation," Commissioner, Health, Amarjeet Singh told PTI here.
"Couple of companies are based in Gujarat while some are from other states. The matter is under investigation," he said.
However, Singh refused to divulge more information as the matter was under investigation.
Sources said that an investigating team is likely to be sent to the states concerned from where the suspected companies are operating.
Following the hepatitis outbreak in the Sabarakantha district, which has till date claimed 56 lives, the Guajrat government has started crack down operation on those who are violating norms of safe medical practice and disposal of biomedical waste.
The health officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had on Saturday raided a godown where over 20 tonne of biomedical waste was stored and sealed it.
Health officer, AMC, Manish Fancy claimed the waste was stored to be recycled. The biomedical waste that was found included used syringes, needles, multiple dose of vials, IV sets, medicine bottles and pediatric droppers, he added. The waste was found from the Bhariravnath bottles in Memco area in the eastern part of the city.
Further investigation revealed that there were certain companies based in Gujarat and outside the state which were purchasing the waste from them, AMC Medical Health Officer Dr Suhash Kulkarni said.
"From the inventory records seized during the raid, we found that the waste material was washed, cleaned and supplied to various companies. Most are based in Gujarat, while some are from outside," he said.
"We are investigating the companies whose names were in the inventory of the Bhairvanath Bottles," Kulkarni added. The AMC officials have raided several godowns of scrap dealers over the past three days in the city and sealed six of them. Over 50 tonnes of biomedical waste was recovered from these godowns.
The state government that swung into action following the Hepatitis outbreak in the Sabarkantha district, mainly in its Modasa taluka, has till date filed complaints against more than 20 doctors and booked more than 50 fake doctors and touts operating with proper licenses.
