Health ministry takes measures to curb plastic waste
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co-organised a national teleconference in Hanoi on August 16 on the deployment of measures to minimise the use of plastic waste in the health sector.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) co-organised a national teleconference in Hanoi on August 16 on thedeployment of measures to minimise the use of plastic waste in the healthsector.
Addressing theevent, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien underlined that nylon bags anddisposable plastic products could be replaced by safe and environmentally-friendlymaterials.
According tolocal hospitals, about 5 percent of medical waste is plastic. However, in thefield, disposable plastic products like syringes, gloves and sample bottleshave significantly contributed to ensure safety and hygiene standards.
The health ministerasked health facilities nationwide to work to raise awareness and change thehabit of using plastic bags and disposable plastic products by health workers,patients and their caretakers.
Furthermore, thefacilities are required to design goals, plans, and roadmaps for the task andreview sources, amounts and types of plastic waste. They are also advised toconduct research and apply measures to minimise plastic waste in the healthsector and arrange forces to implement the plans.
At the teleconference,leaders of the MoH and health units across the country inked a documentpledging to reduce plastic waste in the sector.-VNA
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Illustrative image (Source: Livemint) 
