For the first time in the country, a team of scientists at CSIR-NIIST Developed an innovative technology for the safe and sustainable management of biomedical waste.
On Tuesday the CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology) said that it has developed innovative technology for the safe, sustainable, and economical management of biomedical waste. It showcased its Technology at the one-day biomedical waste management conclave which was held at the CSIR-NIIST campus on March 26.
The one-day biomedical waste management conclave was launched by the Director of AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. M Srinivas and it was chaired by Dr. N Kalaiselvi Secretary and Director General of CSIR through video conferencing.
Dr. M Srinivas congratulated CSIR-NIIST director Dr. C Anandharamakrishnan and team for the innovative alternative technology for the disposal of biomedical waste. The CSIR-NIIST transferred this technology to BioVastum Solutions, an Angamaly-based start-up for commercialization.
At the conclave, the CSIR-NIIST director Dr. C Anandharamakrishnan said that by using this technology one kilogram of biomedical waste can be converted into a safe soil additive in three minutes and it can be used for agricultural purposes. He also said that this technology is safe and productive, it would aid the hospitals to dispose of their medical waste at its beginning effortlessly.
He also said that CSIR-NIIST is vigorously dealing with numerous waste management strategies, including biomedical waste. The technology that they designed for transforming infective biomedical waste into enriched soil additives is the best example of the waste-to-wealth notion. The other benefit of this technology is that both solid and liquid quantities of biomedical waste can be handled and incineration can be completely evaded. The equipment that handles the waste is automated and the refining is odour-free.
This conclave is attended by over 250 delegates including policymakers, medical Colleges and hospitals, NGOs, industries, technocrats, and academia. They discuss several features of biomedical waste and the necessity of novel solutions.
The Secretary and Director General of CSIR Kalaiselvi said that CSIR-NIIST biomedical waste management technology would aid productively and address one of the significant challenges of modern times. She also said that this technology would have a great impact on the global biomedical arena by addressing the constraints of conventional technologies, including energy-intense incineration.
However, for enforcing the technology in hospitals across the nation it needs the consent of the Central Pollution Control Board.
The speakers at the inaugural event included J Chandrababu, Regional Director, Central Pollution Control Board; Srikala S, Chairperson, Kerala State Pollution Control Board; Praghya Yadav, Health Director-in-charge, National Institute for Occupational Health, Nagpur and Head, BSL-4 Facility, National Institute of Virology; Sreejitha Sankar, Senior Scientist, CSIR-NIIST; Sanjay Bihari, Director, Sree Chithra Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; Joshy Varkey, Managing Director of BioVastum Solutions; M. S. Faisal Khan, MD, NIMS Medicity; Joseph Beneval, State President, Indian Medical Association.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)
