The Scientific Sanitation Policy-2015 formulated for better sanitation in government hospitals has been approved by the state government in AP. Now, separate tenders will be invited for sanitation, security, PEST and rodent control.

This new policy was formulated last year in order to give adequate attention to specialized services such as safe collection, storage, treatment, and disposal of different kinds of waste and its management, security and pest and rodent prevention.

It is an essential step forward to maintain aesthetics and deliver patient satisfaction besides reducing the incidence of Hospital Acquired (Nosocomial) infections.

This decision will also address the lapses observed in the previous policy and following the grave incident of an infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Government General Hospital in Guntur due to a rodent attack.

As reported by the Hindu, The new policy document lays down service standards of sanitation for different areas in a hospital as per ‘Swatchata guidelines for public health facilities’ issued by the Union Ministry of Health, Medical and Family Welfare.

A State-level committee headed by Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare and comprising Director of Medical Education, Commissioner of APVVP and Managing Director, APMSIDC, as members will monitor implementation of the new policy.

The government has grouped medical institutions into two packages — institutions under Directorate of Medical Education (all teaching hospitals, specialty hospitals and medical colleges, including hostels) and institutions under Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (all district hospitals, areas hospitals, and major community health centres with high-patient load).

It is meant to bring in economies of scale and best technologies and managerial expertise for improving their efficiency.