Medical waste crisis in Tuyên Quang province
Medical waste is threatening the northern province of Tuyên Quang due to difficulties in treating the hazardous material at local healthcare facilities, said Deputy Director of the provincial Health Department, Đỗ Thị Ngọc Mai. She estimated that some 500kg of medical waste were discharged daily in the province, but outdated technology and degradation of incinerators made it hard to dispose of them safely. Shortage of staff and skills in waste disposal also contributed to the problem, Mai said on November 28. She noted that construction of solid waste treatment facilities required huge investment, but the provincial budget was limited and there were no funds for repair, testing and environmental impact assessments. Tuyên Quang Province is just one example of the countrywide challenges posed by polluting waste. A recent report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said an estimated 47 tonnes of hazardous waste and 125,000cu.m of medical wastewater were discharged from industrial zones, production establishments, businesses and craft villages, as well as medical units, into the environment each day.
