ENVI-HEALTH GROUP URGES AQUINO TO STICK TO PROMISE

NEWS RELEASE

May 14, 2010

ENVI-HEALTH GROUP URGES AQUINO TO STICK TO PROMISE
Environmental-health concern should be Universal Health Care’s backbone

Cagayan de Oro City – ‘Thy will be done but do not forget your promise’ says environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) as they call on presidential frontrunner Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to put mercury phase-out and other environmental health issues a priority agenda in his 1st 100 days in office. The group likewise calls on the new administration to make environmental health concern part of the universal health care platform of the Aquino Health Agenda (AHA).

“The words of the new president of the country are as good as law,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “If mercury phase-out will be in his top agenda, the country will be free of mercury devices in a span of a few months, greatly surpassing the global target of mercury phase-out by 2017.”

“We also would like to remind Sen. Aquino of his promise that the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to health and the environment and how to address them will be a priority under the health and environment agenda of his Administration” added Ferrer.

A week before the election, HCWH-SEA released that names of presidential aspirants who signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com). Of the nine presidential bets, only Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal and spiritual leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas signed the Covenant. Aquino did not but instead send a letter promising support to the campaign.

The Covenant signed by more than 1,500 health care facilities and institutions, individuals and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is a pledge from the health sector to enjoin their candidates to support green health care. A green health care, according to the Covenant, is mercury-free, observes proper health care waste management, regulates chemical use and disposal in the health care setting and is responsive to climate change.

“The stage has been set for total mercury phase-out,” says Ferrer referring to Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order (AO) 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 2010 as well as the global movement to phase-out mercury. “We do not just want to be a model to other 3rd world countries. We want to show Sen. Aquino that mercury phase-out is achievable given the alternatives available in the country, as well as examples of hospitals who have shifted to mercury alternatives.”

Philippines is the 1st Southeast Asian country and the 1st developing country to have a national policy on mercury phase-out. “The target is total phase-out by September or at least 85% mercury phase-out with the remaining 15% on its way to phase-out,” said Ferrer.

“While we laud the three basics of AHA (universal health care, access to health through improved health infrastructure and a holistic and comprehensive health care system), we would like to reiterate that environmental health should be at its backbone,” pointed out Ferrer.

Under universal health care as the corner stone of health agenda, the target is to achieve universal health care in three years time or less. It added that universal health care should mean that cardholders will not merely get the card but the essential health services, basic medicines and appropriate quality health care.

“At the heart of providing essential health services, we need to recognize that sadly some of the devices found in a health care setting may not always be good for our health,” said Ferrer referring to mercury thermometers which for years had been considered the gold standard but just recently the health sector is fast tracking its phase-out.

The group likewise cited harmful chemicals used in health care which may be polluting and poisoning the water system.

For access to health through improved health infrastructure, the Aquino platform promises to fund 22,000 more barangay health stations, 3,000 more outpatient Rural Health Units and at least 150 more district hospitals.

“Again this is another laudable plan.” She cautions, “In building new health infrastructures, let us think long-term. Yes, we are building to provide for the health needs of all Filipinos, yet let us not forget sustainability. Are the new structures responsive to climate change?” asked Ferrer. “Again being responsive to climate change does not mean we will use expensive materials. Simple modifications in the design of the building so that it is energy efficient and more beneficial to the well-being of the patient and health workers must be considered.”

The AHA likewise promises to implement all the benefits stipulated in the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers. Primary goal of the Magna Carta is promotion of social and economic well-being of health workers.

“Occupational safety may be addressed by again looking at the hazards within a health facility. These hazards may include toxic substances used in health care.”

Last, AHA aims to increase the health budget to at least 5% of the national budget as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). For 2010, of the Php1.541 trillion national budget, only Php33.678 billion is allocated to health or 2.2% of the national budget.

“Now that the new administration is considering a budget increase for health, we are reminding the new President to always look at the environmental-health aspect of every health policy. Environment and health can no longer be separated. The last we want is to make purchases and improvements which we will later regret because it failed to consider the correlation between health and environment.”

HCWH is an international coalition of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. For more information on HCWH-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.

Sonia G. Astudillo, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org