Hospital to use biodegradable bags to reduce plastic waste
HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội-based National Cancer Hospital will develop bidding plans to buy biodegradable bags to help reduce plastic waste.
Speaking at a conference on Wednesday, Lê Văn Quảng, deputy director of the hospital, said the hospital has consumed nearly one tonne of plastic bags per month.
The hospital plans to convert four types of disposable bags in its departments into biodegradable bags made of cassava flour, while paper bags will be used to store patient's medicine instead of plastic bags as currently.
At the hospital, various activities have been implemented to reduce plastic waste, including reusing cutlery and crockery.
The hospital has also asked charity organisations and patients’ families to bring their own cups and bowls for food.
The hospital has also replaced disposable waste bins on injection carts with buckets which can be recycled.
It has chalked out a roadmap to use eco-friendly or reusable materials to package and store medicine, chemicals, equipment, medical materials and supplies.
Last week, Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến launched a campaign on the health sector, workers and patients to stop the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastic products at all medical facilities and health management units nationwide.
The move is part of the health sector’s efforts to implement Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc‘s call for political organisations, ministries, agencies, co妹妹ittees, local authorities, associations, businesses and the co妹妹unity to work together to solve the problem of plastic waste. — VNS
