DOHA: Any medical or industrial company which fails to comply with the Ministry of Environment’s reference guide for medical waste management will face stringent action which may lead to non-renewal of commercial registration, warned an official source from the Ministry.

An inspection team was formed in this regard which comprises representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Supreme Council of Health and Qatar Petroleum whose responsibilities include monitoring, control and implementation of the guide among the 417 medical entities across the country, Al Watan daily has reported.

Sources told the Arabic daily the Ministry has set plans to implement the reference guide in three phases. They include coming up with certain indicators to assess whether the company has complied with the rules or not, inspecting the companies for compliance with the regulations, and implementing the law against any violations.

The Ministry they will focus on three types of wastes namely medical, industrial, and domestic waste.  It has also established a committee to review the current situation, submit proposals and develop regulations at national level.

The guide includes an explanation on the meaning and nature of medical waste, how to deal with them inside or outside the company, the conditions for acquiring licence, health and safety regulations and transportation of these materials.

The guide also includes medical waste in the veterinary sector. It classifies medical waste into dangerous, not dangerous and raw materials and should be kept in special containers to avoid health risks.

The guide’s aim is to control and monitor production, storage, transportation, recycling and disposal of medical waste. Medical companies in Qatar include 153 pharmacies, 31 clinics, 22 polyclinics, nine specialised polyclinics, four hospitals, 10 laboratories, 42 dental polyclinics, 49 dental clinics and 96 optical clinics in addition to QP clinics.

The Peninsula