By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter

An industrialised country such as Qatar should establish more waste management facilities that cater to hazardous materials disposed of by hospitals and energy-related  companies, experts said.

Kawther Mokhtar, a chemical engineer of United Medical Waste Management (UMWM), told Gulf Times that since Qatar’s economy mainly thrives on oil and gas, the country needs more waste management facilities to help industry-related companies properly dispose hazardous materials.

Mokhtar added that medical institutions such as state-run hospitals and private clinics also require specialised treatment of medical and chemical wastes.

But compared to industrial companies, she said the UMWM collects and treats medical wastes on a daily basis.

She said the handling and transport of medical waste is a “serious” task but she quickly clarified that hazardous materials collected from hospitals, including medical wastes from university laboratories and private clinics are “treated immediately.”

“As soon as we collect the waste, it is carefully transported and disposed of in an incinerator because most of the materials coming from hospitals and laboratories could be hazardous or infectious,” Mokhtar explained.

When asked if the treatment and disposal procedures are environmentally-safe, she stressed that the company follows strict protocols that comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and standards set by the Ministry of Environment and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH).

An industry expert, who asked not to be named, said there are a handful of companies in Qatar that specialise in medical, chemical, and solid waste management.

He said there are purportedly some “fly-by-night” companies that collect and dispose of bio-hazardous materials from “small” private clinics in far-flung areas.

“If these reports are true, then this could pose as a serious health risk,” he warned.

The expert said the indiscriminate disposal of bio-hazardous and other medical wastes could aggravate the spread of infectious diseases due to rapid growth of microorganisms.

“This creates an unsanitary environment. And humid conditions contribute to microbial growth that could help spread flu-related viruses,” he noted.

According to the source, land size and population increase are also critical factors that government should consider as he reiterated calls for the establishment of more waste management facilities.

In a June 2014 statement released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, the country has already breached the 2mn mark. Media reports, on the other hand, said population growth has created a ripple effect in various sectors of the economy.

In July this year, the SCH has announced plans to beef up the state’s medical facilities with at least 48 healthcare infrastructure projects in the pipeline, which are expected to be completed by 2020.

The SCH said the projects, which include the establishment of health centres, diagnostic and treatment units, general and specialised hospitals, and hospital expansions, are part of the Qatar Health Facilities Master Plan.