35 kilograms of medical waste found in Gianyar regency traced back to local doctor: reports

Gianyar Police said they have yet to identify a suspect in the case. Photo: Gianyar Police
Gianyar Police said they have yet to identify a suspect in the case. Photo: Gianyar Police

The culprit behind littered medical waste in Bali’s Gianyar regency is allegedly a contract worker at a local hospital, as revealed in a meeting among concerned parties at the Bali Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) this week. 

In late May, trash bags that add up to about 35 kilograms containing various medical waste, from bottles to infusion lines and syringes, were found in Bitera sub-district, Gianyar. Police soon launched an investigation into the case in an attempt to locate the culprit. 

During a meeting attended by representatives from the Gianyar Health Agency, Gianyar Environmental Agency, Sanjiwani General Hospital, and members of DPRD Bali, it was revealed that the littered medical waste might have involved a doctor working at Sanjiwani. 

According to reports, the doctor instructed a contract worker hired by the public hospital to take the medical waste from his private practice and dispose of it at Sanjiwani’s medical waste facility. Those who attended the meeting did not reveal identities of the possible suspects. 

Ida Komang Upeksa, acting head of Gianyar Health Agency, said Sanjiwani does not allow the use of its medical waste facility by anyone else but the public hospital. Such a practice might therefore be a violation of existing law. 

Meanwhile, Gianyar Police said they have yet to identify a suspect in the case.

“We are still investigating and we have yet to find the suspect,” general crimes unit head Laorens Rajamangapul said. 

The incident has sparked concerns about the disposal of medical waste in Gianyar, with DPRD member Ni Made Ratnadi calling on the authorities to step up monitoring and collecting data on private practices in the area to ensure they are treating their medical waste responsibly.

Read more news and updates from Bali here.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on