Pune hospitals oppose rate hikes for BMW collection

The Association Of Hospitals (AFP) in Pune has strongly opposed rate hikes for biomedical waste collection introduced by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently. Calling it unilateral and arbitrary, the association has written to PMC requesting the civic body to revert to the old rates as there was no discussion held or notice shared. They are concerned it will hurt the hospitals further who are already in financial duress, reports Pune Mirror. 

Earlier, the medical waste collection cost was Rs 42 per kilogram but PMC has now revised it to Rs 100 per kilogram. A vehicle transport charge of Rs 15,000 has also been added to the list. This obviously has put the hospitals in a disadvantageous position because a large amount of waste is generated by them, which has only escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In its defense, the PMC has argued that it is not mandatory for the PMC to give a notice to the hospital whenever it is revising the rates.

Picture Credit: National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi