Jamshedpur, Oct. 30: Civil surgeon Shiv Shankar Berua has constituted a three-member inquiry committee following rising complaints of improper disposal of medical waste and anomalies in the registration of nursing homes.

The panel will be headed by senior government doctor M.M. Agrawal.

Sources in the health said the committee had been asked to ensure whether private nursing homes and hospitals, which are mushrooming in East Singhbhum, are following the medical waste disposal norms as suggested by the Jharkhand Pollution Control Board (JPCB).

The team will also investigate whether these clinics are registered with the proper authorities.

The sources said the department had received several complaints that many of the private nursing homes did not have trained staff, including nurses.

“Some of these clinics are posing a threat to the environment and public health because of improper disposal of medical waste. Even basic facilities like incinerators are not there at most nursing homes,” said the health authorities.

East Singhbhum drug inspector Javed-ul-Haque, who is one of the members of the committee, said of the 35 private nursing homes in the district, only around eight follow the waste disposal norms as they use the incinerator installed at Tata Main Hospital. The rest, he said, either burn the waste or dump it in the rivers, posing a serious threat to the environment. “We are going to be serious this time and those found flouting the directives would be issued warning letters,” said Haque.

Haque said the inquiry team would also see find out whether the ultra-sound centres have proper registration and were following the provisions as laid down under the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act.

The drug inspector claimed that most ultra-sound centres were flouting the law.

“We have received complaints that the majority of the centres is not collecting the necessary details of the patients. Under the Act, it is necessary to take the patient’s consent for an ultra-sound test in Form G and other details such as the his address, number of children, whether pregnancy was terminated earlier in Form F,” he said.

The health authorities said the inquiry report had to be submitted within three months on the basis of which further action could be taken against the private hospitals and nursing homes.

A senior health official admitted that framing of a Nursing Home Act is necessary to regulate private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes mushrooming in the state.

PDS outlets: In an attempt to strengthen the public distribution system in the district, the East Singhbhum district administration has decided to set up 30 outlets in the district.

A decision was taken in this regard at a meeting between deputy commissioner Nidhi Khare and the district rationing officials on Wednesday.

The rationing department has been directed by the deputy commissioner to identity the areas where the outlets wouldbe set up. Khare said focus would be given to the rural areas while establishing the outlets in the district.