Disposal of Insulin Pens and Lancets

<p>On Thursday 25 May 2017, I took my mum to EThekwini Heart Hospital for a blood test. Being a diabetic myself, I decided to also take my used insulin pens and lancets for safe disposal at the hospital. What a shock...</p> <p> </p> <p>I was told by Lancet Laboraties that they do not accept medical waste from the general public and I needed to enquire at the reception of the hospital, which I then did. Reception then sends me to casualty. Casualty then send me to the third floor to enquire from a sister Jaylal who I could not find as this was a ward for newly born babies and no one was in sight. I then tried Jack Persad - only to wait for 15 minutes and being told the lady in charge was busy.</p> <p> </p> <p>If hospitals are not willing to assist with medical waste disposal no wonder it’s being washed up on our beaches and being found in dumps posing a serious health risk to the public.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am of the firm belief that hospitals should accept small quantities of medical waste from the public as this is the responsible way of getting rid of hazardous medical waste.</p> <p> </p> <p>I cannot understand why the hospital staff is not educated in handling such requests.</p>