ISLAMABAD (APP) - Untreated and improperly disposed of hospitals waste is causing ailments and serious hazards to human health. As majority of hospitals in the country lack incinerators or proper waste disposal system, the waste usually lies in suburbs or at premises adjacent to the hospitals. Even big hospitals in major cities lack proper disposal system and those coming to hospitals for treatment are also exposed to germs oozing out of the waste dumps. Sources at Environment Ministry told APP that daily hospital waste generation stands at 250,000 tonnes and major chunk remains untreated or thrown in open air in the outskirts of the cities and towns. Mentioning to a survey by the Ministry, the sources added, out of the total waste generated by hospitals daily, 20 per cent is infectious. This waste bears ample quantity of virus and bacteria and exposes nearby citizens to different diseases. When contacted, Director General Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Asif Shuja Khan told this agency, the problem is very much there and majority of the hospitals lack incinerators or proper disposal system. He, however mentioned to certain big hospitals like Polyclinic, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Shifa International, Agha Khan, Al Nahayan and some other important hospitals where the system was in place. Now the people are paying heed to this issue and number of hospitals have put in place proper disposal and treatment mechanism, he said. Now the Punjab government is also releasing funds to install 24 incinerators at different hospitals, Asif Shuja said. He said hospital waste is more injurious to health as compared to usual waste generated daily as it carries germs. When it is dumped in open and not incinerated or treated properly, the germs exuding from the dumping sites, mix with air and travel into the lungs when breathing, he said. With rising awareness on environmental issues, now the people have also started demanding proper disposal of waste. It is also high time to pay heed to this dilemma as environmental degradation already cost the Country Rs 365 billion annually. This massive loss to national kitty can be saved provided the government and the non-governmental organizations and the international agencies buttress efforts to properly address the environmental issues.