The Eastern Cape Department of Health has expressed its shock and concern over a video currently circulating on social media, which accuses Frere Hospital of being involved in the illegal dumping of medical waste.
The video, shared by an unidentified individual, claimed that the hospital was responsible for waste found at an unnamed railway.
The department has categorically denied these allegations, labelling them as malicious and unfounded. A spokesperson for the department has said:
"Without a single shred of evidence, the unidentified man in the video makes unfounded allegations of Frere Hospital being responsible for illegally dumping at an unidentified railway."
The department insists that the hospital follows health protocols through a contracted private waste disposal service.
The department has clarified that Frere Hospital outsources its medical waste disposal to a private supplier, which collects the waste daily for proper disposal. Contrary to the claims made in the video, Frere Hospital uses boxes for medical waste storage, not plastic bags, as depicted in the footage, the department says.
“The waste packaging materials of the supplier contracted to dispose of Frere Hospital medical waste have tags for easy identification,” the statement reads.
The department has also condemned the spread of these accusations.
IOL