Manila – Envi-health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA), today questions the Philippine government for slacking in the mercury phase-out implementation in health care. “Of the 1,851 hospitals in the country, we only have more than 600 mercury-free or going mercury-free hospitals,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “Contrary to Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 21 target of 100% phase-out by September 2010.”
According to Ferrer, before the issuance of AO 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions, there were more than 60 hospitals who opted to switch to mercury alternatives. Among these are Philippine Heart Center, General Santos Doctor’s Hospital, Manila Adventist Hospital and San Juan De Dios Hospital.
In a survey conducted by HCWH-SEA, more than 600 hospitals have phased-out mercury thermometers and BP apparatus in their facilities. “While 600+ was a good number in 2010, this is not the case anymore six months after the September 2010 deadline for mercury phase-out,” said Ferrer. “The question on mercury importation ban remains unanswered despite countless appeal to the DoH.”
“We give credit to concerned stakeholders who have worked in this phase-out,” said Ferrer. “Private corporations like mercury-free alternatives distributors have helped in campaigning for mercury-free health care,” said Ferrer citing one health care retail outlet who made a nationwide mercury campaign last year.
“We likewise have artists like Albert Martinez, Judah Paolo and Suzi Abrera who are openly speaking about the dangers of mercury to people’s health and the environment. PhilHealth on the other hand, has included in its Benchbook compliance to AO 21,” she added.
“But we need more concrete actions,” said Ferrer. “While the DoH is no longer giving permits to medical devices distributor to sell mercury thermometers, it does not restrict entry of mercury devices in the country thus they are still widely available in the market.”
“The issue of storage for phased-out mercury devices is still hanging and the 2009 General Appropriations Act 13.2 M allocation for purchase of non-mercurial devices remains unreleased,” Ferrer pointed out.
“We call all hospitals to move with the phase-out. The deadline has expired and our health system is not even close to 50% mercury-free.”
“Based on the regional conferences conducted by HCWH-SEA in 2010, several health facilities run by the local government units are unaware of AO 21,” said Ferrer citing one hospital who purchased mercury thermometers at the last quarter of 2010.
In December 2010, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memo 2010-140 enjoining all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, DILG regional directors and other concerned to ensure compliance to DoH-AO 21.
“This was issued 3 months after expiration date of AO 21. It shows the government’s lack of interest on the phase-out of mercury.”
During the 2010 Presidential election when HCWH-SEA started a signature drive called the Green Health Covenant among health care workers and Presidential aspirants. P-Noy did not sign the Covenant but sent a letter saying the dangers of mercury and other substances harmful to the health and the environment and how to address them will definitely be a priority under the health and environment agenda of his administration.
“We do not see this happening. Not with more than a thousand more hospitals still playing with fire every time they use mercury thermometer or BP apparatus in their facilities.,”
Contact
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Faye Ferrer, Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care, +63 920 9327151, faye@hcwh.org
HCWH-SEA will hold the Asia Regional Conference on Mercury-Free Health Care on March 15 (8:30 AM to 6:30 PM) at the Gateway Suites, Gateway Mall, Cubao to tackle the global initiatives to phase-out mercury devices in health care, as well as the mercury phase-out initiatives in Asia and the Philippines. On March 16 (8:15 to 11:15 AM), there will be a panel discussion on Dental Amalgam and its Alternatives and Greening the Health Sector discussing environmental issues like climate change & health care, substituting chemicals in health care, Green & Clean Program in Thailand hospitals, sustainable health care waste management in Philippine hospitals and developing small scale autoclaves for healthcare waste in Tanzania.
HCWH is an international coalition with over 483 member organizations in 53 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment