FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2009
RP HOSPITALS TO AUSTRIA: ENSURE PROJECTS ASSIST COUNTRY, NOT AGGRAVATE DEBT
Manila – Several hospitals in the country, together with Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) sent a letter to Austria Ambassador Herbert Jaeger calling for the cancellation of an Austrian loan used to purchase now mothballed medical incinerators for 26 hospitals run by the Department of Health.
The 1997 loan, which financed the Austrian project for the establishment of waste disposal facilities and upgrading of the medical equipment standard in Department of Health (DoH) hospitals, amounts to Php503 million. The government started paying the principal and interest in 2002 and now pays an average of US$2 million a year and will continue to pay until 2014.
The incinerators were decommissioned in 2003 with the enactment of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 prohibiting the use of incinerators.
According to Ronnel Lim, HCWH-SEA Anti-Incineration Program Officer, “the loan eats up a large portion of the government budget which could have been allotted instead to the delivery of basic health services.”
“Instead of easing up funding issues in government hospitals, the loan worsens it.”
Debt-ridden health
In 2008, total health budget is only 7.7 per cent of the total amount automatically allocated to debt interest payments. For 2009, health budget is less than one-tenth of debt interest.
“This is clearly culpable for our poor health situation,” he exclaimed.
He cited a global report placing Philippines 60th in the world health system, “awfully left behind by other Asian countries”—Singapore at 6th, Japan at 10th, Thailand at 47th, Malaysia at 49th and South Korea at 58th.
A recent report by Save the Children International revealed that only a third of Filipino children under the age of 5 get basic health care, making the Philippines one of the worst places for infants and mothers.
Another report said that two to three poor Filipino patients share one hospital bed in many of the government hospitals, while seven out of 10 Filipinos especially in the rural areas die without seeing a doctor or a health worker.
Lim said that the loan further aggravates the already poor health situation in the country.
He added that the money used to pay for the loan may be allotted to other projects, among which is the installation of non-burn treatment technology, such as autoclaves for disinfection of medical waste from hospitals.
Beyond toxic limit
Another questionable aspect of the incinerators is its failure to meet standards set by European Union limits in 2001.
“With the excessive emissions of the incinerators, they would have been difficult to operate in Austria,” Lim pointed out. “This is an obvious case of dumping of obsolete technologies to a 3rd world country.”
As stated in the letter signed by HCWH-SEA and the hospitals, “confirmatory tests done by DoH and WHO showed that dioxins and furan emissions was eight hundred seventy times the prevailing limit in the EU, of which Austria is a member.”
More than a popularity vote
Recognizing the onerous quality of the loan, the interest payment for the loan has been cancelled by the Philippine Congress in 2008. This was however vetoed by the President.
Earlier this year, 43 Congressmen signed the petition calling for the cancellation of the loan.
“We believe that by canceling the loan, the Austrian government could achieve the original purpose for which the loan as an official development assistance was originally intended, which was to help Philippine hospitals manage their infectious waste. As things stand now, the DOH hospitals don’t have money to invest in treatment technologies because of this loan that needs to be paid until 2014,” said Lim.
Signatories of the letters are: Sr. Norma Vicentillo, SPC and Loreta Sumawang (Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Baguio City), Wilson Baladad (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Remedios Banta (Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Baguio City), Dr. George Pangwi (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Col. Ronaldo C. Cruz, MC (GSC) (Fort del Pilar Station Hospital, Philippine Military Academy, Baguio City), Engr. Worley Imbat (Baguio General Hospital), Ester Borja (Philippine Heart Center), Susan Enriquez (General Santos Doctors Hospital, General Santos City), Zenaida Talagtag (Philippine Children’s Medical Center), Sr. Ma. Jessica Formacion (St. Paul Hospital,Tuguegarao City) Engr. Aida Calma (San Lazaro Hospital), Richael Batang (St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City), Engr. Cesar Yangat (Lung Center of the Philippines), Sr. Trecella May C. Macalam (School of Health Sciences, St. Paul University, Tuguegarao City), Sr. Evelyn Aguilar and Henriel Mojado (St. Paul Hospital Cavite), Dr. Susana A. Salvacion (Philippine Nurses Association), Camilla C. Sarmiento (Northern Samar Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office), Elena L. Bologa and Lilia Almasco (Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Catarman, Norther Samar), Dr. Michelle Sunico (UP College of Dentistry, Manila).
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
PASYON: 2009 Budget
PASYON: 2009 Budget
Matapos ang mahabang panahon na ginugol sa talakayan tungkol sa 2009 budget, ang kapangyarihan ng pagpapatupad ng alokasyon ay nanatiling nasa Presidente lamang.
O ang veto ni Gloria ...
Ang kapangyarihan ng pagtanggi ng Presidente sa mga mungkahi ng mambabatas at ng mamamayan ay nagdulot ng di paglabas ng pondo para sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan. Ang halimbawa nito ay ang P100 million nakalaan para sa autoclaves sa taong 2008. Maraming buhay sana ng mga bata at ina ang nailigtas.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon na nag oobliga sa ahensya ng pamahalaan na magsagawa ng konsultasyon at koordinasyon bago ang implementasyon ng mga proyekto ay pagpapatunay ng kawalan ng transparency at accountability sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon ng pagpapatupad ng sistema ng katibayan sa paggugol ng pondo sa ilalim ng Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program ay nagpapakita ng pag bale wala sa pagsugpo ng katiwalaan katulad ng fertilizer scam.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon na nagbibigay ng labing isang milyon para sa mga maralita sa mga mahihirap na komunidad ay hindi pagtanaw sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan lalo na sa panahon ng krisis na pinagdadaanan ng ating bayan.
O ang veto ni Gloria…
Hiniling ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon na ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong paaralan ay ibase sa aktuwal na pangangailangan ng mga komunidad at hindi lamang kung saan malaki ang populasyon. Kahabag-habag ang napakaraming maliliit na pamayanan sa kapuluan na walang paaralan. Huwag sanang ibase sa dami ng tao o dami ng botante ang desisyon dito.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Re-enactment nanaman ng budget sa unang tatlong buwan ng taon. Ibig sabihin mas maraming salapi ang maaring magamit sa anumang paraan na gustuhin ng Presidente. O kaawaan mo po kami, pera na pinagpapawisan ng taumbayan, saan nanaman mapupunta?
O ang veto ni Gloria …
********************
PASYON NG ABI HEALTH
Nang si Gloria ay nalukluk
Sa malakanyang syay nalugmuk
Pondo para sa Health Budget
Ang mahihirap ay na forget
Sa baba ng tinatanggap
Na sahod ng gobyernong nars
Umaalis at naghahanap
Nang trabaho sa ibayong dagat
Mga benepisyo ng Magna Carta
Hindi lahat ay nakakatangap
Budget para dito laging isinasama
Palagi ding hindi napapasa
Manggagawang Pangkalusugan
Atin namang alagaan
Pag silay umalis at nangibang bayan
Ang kawawa ang taumbayan
Kokonti na ang gobyernong nars
Pati doctor ay nag-aaral maging nars
Kasi nga mababa ang sahod
Kumpara sa dolyar at pag-abroad
Sa 2015, MDG ay tapos na
Pangako ng bansa, napako na
Kulang kasi ang pondo inilaan
Para ito ay maisa katuparan
Paano nga, inuuna
Nitong si Gloria ang sa kanya
Interes ng bayan, iniwan na
Naghahanda para sa kampanya
Ang sabi niya, Ramdam ang Kaunlaran
Pero tingnan mo ang taumbayan
Walang trabaho at matitirhan
Kaya lugmok sa kahirapan
Matapos ang mahabang panahon na ginugol sa talakayan tungkol sa 2009 budget, ang kapangyarihan ng pagpapatupad ng alokasyon ay nanatiling nasa Presidente lamang.
O ang veto ni Gloria ...
Ang kapangyarihan ng pagtanggi ng Presidente sa mga mungkahi ng mambabatas at ng mamamayan ay nagdulot ng di paglabas ng pondo para sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan. Ang halimbawa nito ay ang P100 million nakalaan para sa autoclaves sa taong 2008. Maraming buhay sana ng mga bata at ina ang nailigtas.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon na nag oobliga sa ahensya ng pamahalaan na magsagawa ng konsultasyon at koordinasyon bago ang implementasyon ng mga proyekto ay pagpapatunay ng kawalan ng transparency at accountability sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon ng pagpapatupad ng sistema ng katibayan sa paggugol ng pondo sa ilalim ng Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program ay nagpapakita ng pag bale wala sa pagsugpo ng katiwalaan katulad ng fertilizer scam.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Ang pagtanggi ng Presidente sa probisyon na nagbibigay ng labing isang milyon para sa mga maralita sa mga mahihirap na komunidad ay hindi pagtanaw sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan lalo na sa panahon ng krisis na pinagdadaanan ng ating bayan.
O ang veto ni Gloria…
Hiniling ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon na ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong paaralan ay ibase sa aktuwal na pangangailangan ng mga komunidad at hindi lamang kung saan malaki ang populasyon. Kahabag-habag ang napakaraming maliliit na pamayanan sa kapuluan na walang paaralan. Huwag sanang ibase sa dami ng tao o dami ng botante ang desisyon dito.
O ang veto ni Gloria …
Re-enactment nanaman ng budget sa unang tatlong buwan ng taon. Ibig sabihin mas maraming salapi ang maaring magamit sa anumang paraan na gustuhin ng Presidente. O kaawaan mo po kami, pera na pinagpapawisan ng taumbayan, saan nanaman mapupunta?
O ang veto ni Gloria …
********************
PASYON NG ABI HEALTH
Nang si Gloria ay nalukluk
Sa malakanyang syay nalugmuk
Pondo para sa Health Budget
Ang mahihirap ay na forget
Sa baba ng tinatanggap
Na sahod ng gobyernong nars
Umaalis at naghahanap
Nang trabaho sa ibayong dagat
Mga benepisyo ng Magna Carta
Hindi lahat ay nakakatangap
Budget para dito laging isinasama
Palagi ding hindi napapasa
Manggagawang Pangkalusugan
Atin namang alagaan
Pag silay umalis at nangibang bayan
Ang kawawa ang taumbayan
Kokonti na ang gobyernong nars
Pati doctor ay nag-aaral maging nars
Kasi nga mababa ang sahod
Kumpara sa dolyar at pag-abroad
Sa 2015, MDG ay tapos na
Pangako ng bansa, napako na
Kulang kasi ang pondo inilaan
Para ito ay maisa katuparan
Paano nga, inuuna
Nitong si Gloria ang sa kanya
Interes ng bayan, iniwan na
Naghahanda para sa kampanya
Ang sabi niya, Ramdam ang Kaunlaran
Pero tingnan mo ang taumbayan
Walang trabaho at matitirhan
Kaya lugmok sa kahirapan
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
HOSPITALS URGE DoH TO WORK FOR RELEASE OF 100 M FUND FOR HEALTH
March 24, 2009
HOSPITALS URGE DoH TO WORK FOR RELEASE OF 100 M FUND FOR HEALTH
Manila – Hospitals all over the country together with Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) recently sent a letter addressed to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urging the latter “to find the most expeditious way” to see the release of the P100 million budget for autoclaves for the treatment of infectious medical waste.
In the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2008, P100 million was appropriated for autoclaves for medical waste treatment in the budget approved for the Department of Health (DoH). However, to date, the project is awaiting House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Secretary Junie Cua’s and Speaker Prospero Nograles‘s endorsements for the fund’s release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
According to Ronnel Lim, HCWH-SEA Anti-Incineration Program Officer, “The Philippine Congress has responded to the need for the treatment of infectious medical waste by appropriating the money for it in 2008.”
“The DoH should actively work to access the fund that has been made available to it.”
To autoclave or not
Autoclave uses steam under pressure to treat cultures and stocks, sharps, materials contaminated with blood and limited amounts of fluid, isolation and surgery wastes, laboratory wastes (excluding chemical wastes), and soft waste.
Since the use of incinerators to dispose medical wastes has been banned by the 1999 Clean Air Act, autoclave is among the accepted methods to treat waste. According to a World Health Organization report, waste produced by health care facilities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other kind of waste.
“DoH”s National Center for Health Facility Development has already identified the hospitals that could host the autoclaves that could treat the wastes of several hospitals within a catchment area,” said Lim.
Case in point is Baguio City. In the Hospital Waste Assessment Project (HWAP) report released by HCWH-SEA, the approximated volume of infectious waste produced in a month in seven Baguio hospitals is 9,708 kg. A 24 x 34 autoclave treating 50 kg of waste per hour and running for 10 hours a day can treat 17,500 kg of infectious wastes in a month.
“The amount of infectious wastes produced by the hospitals is much smaller than the potential capacity of the autoclave. Thus the services may even be extended to nearby hospitals,” said Lim.
Impounded fund?
Although the third highest allocation in the 2008 GAA, health budget accounts only for 1.25% of the total budget. For 2009, health budget is less than one-tenth of debt interest.
“Considering that health budget is already very limited, the last thing we want to happen is for an appropriated budget to end up unreleased ,” said Lim.
In 2008, an Impoundment Control bill was filed at the lower house to stop the President from transferring appropriated fund that was not released from one agency to another. Unreleased funds automatically revert back to the national treasury and thus may be appropriated to other agencies/projects as deemed necessary by the President.
Appropriated funds may not be released if the agency fails to comply with the documentary requirements of the DBM.
“Thus we are urging Speaker Nograles and Committee Chair Cua and the DBM to do all the necessary steps to expedite the release of the fund,” said Lim.
“We also urge the DoH to seriously follow-up on the release of fund for the autoclave project.”
Signatories of the letter are: Sr. Norma Vicentillo, SPC and Loreta Sumawang (Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Baguio City), Wilson Baladad (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Remedios Banta (Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Baguio City), Dr. George Pangwi (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Col. Ronaldo C. Cruz, MC (GSC) (Fort del Pilar Station Hospital, Philippine Military Academy, Baguio City), Engr. Worley Imbat (Baguio General Hospital), Ester Borja (Philippine Heart Center), Susan Enriquez (General Santos Doctors Hospital, General Santos City), Zenaida Talagtag (Philippine Children’s Medical Center), Sr. Ma. Jessica Formacion (St. Paul Hospital,Tuguegarao City) Engr. Aida Calma (San Lazaro Hospital), Richael Batang (St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City), Engr. Cesar Yangat (Lung Center of the Philippines), Sr. Trecella May C. Macalam (School of Health Sciences, St. Paul University, Tuguegarao City), Sr. Evelyn Aguilar and Henriel Mojado (St. Paul Hospital Cavite), Dr. Susana A. Salvacion (Philippine Nurses Association), Camilla C. Sarmiento (Northern Samar Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office), Elena L. Bologa and Lilia Almasco (Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Catarman, Norther Samar), and Dr. Michelle Sunico (UP College of Dentistry, Manila).
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
HOSPITALS URGE DoH TO WORK FOR RELEASE OF 100 M FUND FOR HEALTH
Manila – Hospitals all over the country together with Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) recently sent a letter addressed to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urging the latter “to find the most expeditious way” to see the release of the P100 million budget for autoclaves for the treatment of infectious medical waste.
In the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2008, P100 million was appropriated for autoclaves for medical waste treatment in the budget approved for the Department of Health (DoH). However, to date, the project is awaiting House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Secretary Junie Cua’s and Speaker Prospero Nograles‘s endorsements for the fund’s release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
According to Ronnel Lim, HCWH-SEA Anti-Incineration Program Officer, “The Philippine Congress has responded to the need for the treatment of infectious medical waste by appropriating the money for it in 2008.”
“The DoH should actively work to access the fund that has been made available to it.”
To autoclave or not
Autoclave uses steam under pressure to treat cultures and stocks, sharps, materials contaminated with blood and limited amounts of fluid, isolation and surgery wastes, laboratory wastes (excluding chemical wastes), and soft waste.
Since the use of incinerators to dispose medical wastes has been banned by the 1999 Clean Air Act, autoclave is among the accepted methods to treat waste. According to a World Health Organization report, waste produced by health care facilities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other kind of waste.
“DoH”s National Center for Health Facility Development has already identified the hospitals that could host the autoclaves that could treat the wastes of several hospitals within a catchment area,” said Lim.
Case in point is Baguio City. In the Hospital Waste Assessment Project (HWAP) report released by HCWH-SEA, the approximated volume of infectious waste produced in a month in seven Baguio hospitals is 9,708 kg. A 24 x 34 autoclave treating 50 kg of waste per hour and running for 10 hours a day can treat 17,500 kg of infectious wastes in a month.
“The amount of infectious wastes produced by the hospitals is much smaller than the potential capacity of the autoclave. Thus the services may even be extended to nearby hospitals,” said Lim.
Impounded fund?
Although the third highest allocation in the 2008 GAA, health budget accounts only for 1.25% of the total budget. For 2009, health budget is less than one-tenth of debt interest.
“Considering that health budget is already very limited, the last thing we want to happen is for an appropriated budget to end up unreleased ,” said Lim.
In 2008, an Impoundment Control bill was filed at the lower house to stop the President from transferring appropriated fund that was not released from one agency to another. Unreleased funds automatically revert back to the national treasury and thus may be appropriated to other agencies/projects as deemed necessary by the President.
Appropriated funds may not be released if the agency fails to comply with the documentary requirements of the DBM.
“Thus we are urging Speaker Nograles and Committee Chair Cua and the DBM to do all the necessary steps to expedite the release of the fund,” said Lim.
“We also urge the DoH to seriously follow-up on the release of fund for the autoclave project.”
Signatories of the letter are: Sr. Norma Vicentillo, SPC and Loreta Sumawang (Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Baguio City), Wilson Baladad (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Remedios Banta (Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Baguio City), Dr. George Pangwi (Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio City), Col. Ronaldo C. Cruz, MC (GSC) (Fort del Pilar Station Hospital, Philippine Military Academy, Baguio City), Engr. Worley Imbat (Baguio General Hospital), Ester Borja (Philippine Heart Center), Susan Enriquez (General Santos Doctors Hospital, General Santos City), Zenaida Talagtag (Philippine Children’s Medical Center), Sr. Ma. Jessica Formacion (St. Paul Hospital,Tuguegarao City) Engr. Aida Calma (San Lazaro Hospital), Richael Batang (St. Paul Hospital, Tuguegarao City), Engr. Cesar Yangat (Lung Center of the Philippines), Sr. Trecella May C. Macalam (School of Health Sciences, St. Paul University, Tuguegarao City), Sr. Evelyn Aguilar and Henriel Mojado (St. Paul Hospital Cavite), Dr. Susana A. Salvacion (Philippine Nurses Association), Camilla C. Sarmiento (Northern Samar Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office), Elena L. Bologa and Lilia Almasco (Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Catarman, Norther Samar), and Dr. Michelle Sunico (UP College of Dentistry, Manila).
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
HOSPITALS, MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES GEAR UP TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CARE
March 19, 2009
HOSPITALS, MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES GEAR UP TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CARE
Manila – Following clamor for environmentally responsible health care, 15 hospitals, four medical universities, a local environment and natural resources office and a national medical association all pledged to support environmental health campaigns in hospitals and health care system in the country.
In the 1st Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Partners Meeting, representatives from Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital at Philippine Military Academy all in Baguio City, General Santos Doctors Hospital in General Santos City, St Paul Hospitals in Tuguegarao City and Cavite, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Ospital ng Maynila, Manila Adventist Medical Center and School of Medical Arts, School of Health Sciences at St Paul University in Tuguegarao City, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Institute of Public Health Management (IPHM) and Woman Health, Northern Samar Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Philippine Nurses Association signed petitions supporting campaigns on mercury phase-out in hospitals, alternative budget for health care and debt cancellation for a defunct medical waste incinerator project.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, “this shows that environmental protection is part and parcel of or very much link to taking care of people’s health in the country. And we know that these hospitals, medical universities and organization will be in the forefront in all this.”
Mercury Watch
The hospitals, medical universities and organization signed the Mercury Watch Campaign Support Statement vowing to help the Philippine health care system walk through the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices by 2010 as stated in the Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 2008-0021 and urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify and provide temporary storage area for phased-out mercury devices from hospitals.
Several hospitals have already phased-out mercury-containing devices and some are already implementing their mercury minimization program.
It is worthy to note that most of HCWH-SEA partner hospitals have started their mercury minimization program even before the August 2008 signing of AO 21.
Giving what is due
With regards to budget for health care, HCWH-SEA’s partners sent a letter to DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III calling for the most expeditious way to see the release of the Php 100 million funds for autoclaves for medical waste treatment.
“Most hospitals want to move to a better and safer treatment and disposal of health care wastes. Thus they need no further urging to come up with a letter to the Health Secretary,” said Ferrer.
Like HCWH, “the hospitals are saddened to know that a budget which has already been allocated in 2008 is now in danger of ending up in the unreleased appropriations,” she added.
No to useless incinerators
HCWH-SEA and its partners likewise sent a petition to Austrian Ambassador Herbert Jaeger calling on the cancellation of the 1997 defunct medical waste incinerators from Austria.
The petition states, “the proper disposal of infectious medical waste has been an abiding concern among Philippine hospitals that are currently seeking non-incineration ways of treating medical waste. It is greatly tragic for the country that instead of the Philippine government financing these non-incineration alternatives and other health needs, US$2 million dollars per year go instead to the payment of a loan for a project that has been a source of harm to the environment.”
The loan worth Php503 million will be paid for by the government until 2014.
According to Ferrer, the 1st Partners Meeting is just the start. “In the years to come, we hope to gather more partners and thus more support to safer and environmentally responsible health care.”
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, Executive Director, + 63 920 9056113, merci@hcwh.org
HOSPITALS, MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES GEAR UP TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CARE
Manila – Following clamor for environmentally responsible health care, 15 hospitals, four medical universities, a local environment and natural resources office and a national medical association all pledged to support environmental health campaigns in hospitals and health care system in the country.
In the 1st Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Partners Meeting, representatives from Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Pines City Doctors Hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital at Philippine Military Academy all in Baguio City, General Santos Doctors Hospital in General Santos City, St Paul Hospitals in Tuguegarao City and Cavite, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Ospital ng Maynila, Manila Adventist Medical Center and School of Medical Arts, School of Health Sciences at St Paul University in Tuguegarao City, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Institute of Public Health Management (IPHM) and Woman Health, Northern Samar Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Philippine Nurses Association signed petitions supporting campaigns on mercury phase-out in hospitals, alternative budget for health care and debt cancellation for a defunct medical waste incinerator project.
According to Merci Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Executive Director, “this shows that environmental protection is part and parcel of or very much link to taking care of people’s health in the country. And we know that these hospitals, medical universities and organization will be in the forefront in all this.”
Mercury Watch
The hospitals, medical universities and organization signed the Mercury Watch Campaign Support Statement vowing to help the Philippine health care system walk through the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices by 2010 as stated in the Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 2008-0021 and urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify and provide temporary storage area for phased-out mercury devices from hospitals.
Several hospitals have already phased-out mercury-containing devices and some are already implementing their mercury minimization program.
It is worthy to note that most of HCWH-SEA partner hospitals have started their mercury minimization program even before the August 2008 signing of AO 21.
Giving what is due
With regards to budget for health care, HCWH-SEA’s partners sent a letter to DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III calling for the most expeditious way to see the release of the Php 100 million funds for autoclaves for medical waste treatment.
“Most hospitals want to move to a better and safer treatment and disposal of health care wastes. Thus they need no further urging to come up with a letter to the Health Secretary,” said Ferrer.
Like HCWH, “the hospitals are saddened to know that a budget which has already been allocated in 2008 is now in danger of ending up in the unreleased appropriations,” she added.
No to useless incinerators
HCWH-SEA and its partners likewise sent a petition to Austrian Ambassador Herbert Jaeger calling on the cancellation of the 1997 defunct medical waste incinerators from Austria.
The petition states, “the proper disposal of infectious medical waste has been an abiding concern among Philippine hospitals that are currently seeking non-incineration ways of treating medical waste. It is greatly tragic for the country that instead of the Philippine government financing these non-incineration alternatives and other health needs, US$2 million dollars per year go instead to the payment of a loan for a project that has been a source of harm to the environment.”
The loan worth Php503 million will be paid for by the government until 2014.
According to Ferrer, the 1st Partners Meeting is just the start. “In the years to come, we hope to gather more partners and thus more support to safer and environmentally responsible health care.”
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, Executive Director, + 63 920 9056113, merci@hcwh.org
Monday, March 2, 2009
MERCURY ON ITS WAY OUT IN RP, LATIN AMERICA
March 2, 2009
MERCURY ON ITS WAY OUT IN RP, LATIN AMERICA
Manila - Now on it’s 6th month of implementation, the Philippine mercury phase-out order in hospitals has found partners in Argentina and Uruguay.
In August 11, 2008 the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) signed Administrative Order 2008-21 imposing a gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010.
“Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia is more than elated to hear of the good news in two Latin American countries—Argentina and Uruguay,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury.
“Mercury is a global issue and more than anything, it needs global collaboration for its phase-out to be implemented. This is what is happening here.”
Just last week, Argentinas Ministry of Health issued a resolution ending the purchase of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers in all the country’s hospitals and health care centers.
Resolution 139/2009 will also convene a working group of dentistry, medical technology and environmental health specialists to begin a process to gradually phase-out other uses of mercury in the country.
Earlier in February, Uruguay Public Health Ministry has moved to eradicate mercury-based thermometers and replace them with digital alternatives.
The Ministry has tapped the help of Tienda Inglesa Supermarket who donated mercury-free thermometers. All the public health facilities and Tienda Inglesa stores in Uruguay are now accepting old mercury thermometers.
“Indeed Philippines, Argentina and Uruguay have joined the ranks of world leaders in environmental protection,” said Ferrer.
In the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Governing Council meeting late February, 140 countries have agreed to launch a global crackdown against mercury pollution. Preparations for negotiations will start late 2009 with a goal to wrap up by 2013. In the meantime, the ministers agreed to an eight-point interim plan which include among others reducing mercury in products such as thermometers.
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Contact
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, Program Coordinator for Mercury, +63 920 9327151, faye@hcwh.org
MERCURY ON ITS WAY OUT IN RP, LATIN AMERICA
Manila - Now on it’s 6th month of implementation, the Philippine mercury phase-out order in hospitals has found partners in Argentina and Uruguay.
In August 11, 2008 the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) signed Administrative Order 2008-21 imposing a gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010.
“Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia is more than elated to hear of the good news in two Latin American countries—Argentina and Uruguay,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury.
“Mercury is a global issue and more than anything, it needs global collaboration for its phase-out to be implemented. This is what is happening here.”
Just last week, Argentinas Ministry of Health issued a resolution ending the purchase of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers in all the country’s hospitals and health care centers.
Resolution 139/2009 will also convene a working group of dentistry, medical technology and environmental health specialists to begin a process to gradually phase-out other uses of mercury in the country.
Earlier in February, Uruguay Public Health Ministry has moved to eradicate mercury-based thermometers and replace them with digital alternatives.
The Ministry has tapped the help of Tienda Inglesa Supermarket who donated mercury-free thermometers. All the public health facilities and Tienda Inglesa stores in Uruguay are now accepting old mercury thermometers.
“Indeed Philippines, Argentina and Uruguay have joined the ranks of world leaders in environmental protection,” said Ferrer.
In the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Governing Council meeting late February, 140 countries have agreed to launch a global crackdown against mercury pollution. Preparations for negotiations will start late 2009 with a goal to wrap up by 2013. In the meantime, the ministers agreed to an eight-point interim plan which include among others reducing mercury in products such as thermometers.
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 400 organizations in more than 50 countries working to protect health by reducing pollution in health care sector. For more information, visit www.noharm.org. (30)
Contact
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, Program Coordinator for Mercury, +63 920 9327151, faye@hcwh.org
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