Large amounts of hazardous waste have been found dumped around King Fahd Hospital in Al-Hufof. The waste includes used syringes and IV solutions, according to local media reports. The reporter from Al-Yaum Arabic newspaper who found the waste was told that the disposal company had not arrived to collect it. A source at the Directorate of Health Affairs has admitted that this often happens and that the rubbish storage room is often so packed that its door cannot be closed. A source has criticized the hospital saying it was a disgusting scene for visitors and patients. He called for strict monitoring to ensure that the material is disposed of to avoid serious diseases, viruses and damage to the environment. He pointed out that medical waste contains many hazardous and infectious components, microbes and viruses which can spread quickly. “These chemical components are detrimental to human health and might cause mutations and deformities in living creatures in the environment,” he said. The director of public relations at the Directorate of Health Affairs in Al-Ahsa was not available for comment, the paper said.
