The State is fining Concord Hospital over two hundred thousand dollars. The hospital was nabbed for not disposing its pharmaceutical waste properly.
During an inspection the Department of Environmental Services found that Concord Hospital was throwing pills and other non-infectious medical waste straight into the garbage. According to the DES this is the first time in New Hampshire that a civil suit has been filed for improper disposal of pharmaceuticals.
Assistant Attorney General Allan Brooks says while some solvents and used oil were not being handled properly, the bulk of the problem was medications.
"Things like this should not slip under the radar." says Brooks, "I believe this is one of the few facilities that DES found did not have a specific program to deal with hazardous waste."
According to Brooks Concord Hospital can pay $50 thousand dollars of its fine by giving training, free of charge to other New Hampshire hospitals.