Diyala opens environmental case against large women's and children's hospital

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Diyala's Environmental Police Directorate said it has filed a case against Al-Batul Teaching Hospital, the largest women's maternity and children's hospital in the province, over environmental violations linked to its medical waste incinerator. The directorate said an on-site inspection found that the incinerator failed to meet environmental and health standards, with smoke from the facility drifting into surrounding residential areas. Environmental police acted after repeated complaints from neighborhoods near the hospital about smoke emerging from the incinerator, the directorate said. Officials added that letters had previously been sent to relevant authorities calling for the problem to be resolved, but that complaints continued. When the issue remained unresolved, the directorate said, legal proceedings were launched against the hospital's administration. The statement described the action as part of ongoing monitoring of environmental violations affecting public health. No further details on the case were immediately available.