In improving health care services, lawmakers today must also consider environmental safety,” said Merci Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) Executive Director.
This is in response to the news on 61 local bills promoting national health services approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. Included in the approved bills are establishment of municipal hospitals, increasing bed capacity, and upgrading and modernizing hospitals.
“We welcome and laud this move by our lawmakers. Improvements in hospital services will redound to people’s health, especially so if these are for hospitals or clinics in the far-flung areas of the country where hospital services are either very limited or scarce,” said Ferrer. “But we’d like to remind our lawmakers, hospital administrators and health officials that in all these improvements, we need to make sure that the hospitals are not contributing to environmental pollution.”
The group recommends a PRIMER for providing quality health services.
Proper waste segregation – Each hospital need a dedicated waste management committee (1) that will see to it that wastes are properly segregated and placed in its proper bins. “Waste segregation can help in lessening the volume of wastes produced in each hospital,” said Ferrer. “They also need to make sure that the infectious and pathological wastes are properly treated thru autoclave, microwave (2) and other non-burn systems before disposal.”
Recycling program – Each hospitals should also have recycling programs for used items such as boxes, bottles and papers. Based on HCWH’s study, about 85% of the total hospital wastes are like regular household wastes that maybe recycled. Composting area on the other hand may be provided for food wastes from the kitchen. The compost may be used for plants around the hospitals or may even be sold. Recycling and composting programs can generate income for the hospitals.
In-house food production – Hospitals should consider serving food which are locally produced in the community than food from big establishments that are often laden with pesticides. These are healthier for patients and hospital workers alike. It saves cost in transporting food as well as supports livelihood of local farmers.
Mercury-free – Our hospitals should also be mercury-free. In 2008, the Department of Health (DoH) ordered the phase-out of mercury devices by September 2010. “With this Administrative Order, improved health services should now mean the use of mercury-free medical devices,” said Ferrer.
Efficient use of alternative materials which are non-toxic and environmentally friendly– “Such as using recycled papers or fabric instead of tarpaulin for event announcements in hospitals,” she added. A good example of alternative materials on the other hand is using tetrapacks as insulators instead of the regular expensive insulators. “This allows hospitals to re-use materials that would otherwise be discarded.”
Renewable and alternative energy – The group likewise is pushing for use of renewable and alternative energy generation such as solar or wind energy. This can be used for lighting, generation or pumping of water to the facilities. It is likewise wise for health care facilities to do small measures towards less and efficient use of energy by using compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or better yet Light Emitting Diodes (LED) as CFLs are mercury-containing and may be a cause of mercury pollution when not properly handled. Turning down the air conditioner during cooler days, turning off and unplugging equipments when not in use are other measures that will go a long way in saving energy usage in the hospitals. Having bigger windows so light and wind may freely enter must also be considered, as well as having plants within and outside of the hospital premises.
“These are measures that are easy to implement, all it needs is a commitment and the will to do things properly,” said Ferrer. “We hope that PRIMER will be incorporated in the improvements that the health sector wants to provide to the people.”
Endnotes:
1 - DOH Health Care Waste Management Manual recommends the formation of a waste management committee in hospitals.
2 - Autoclaves uses steam 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. Microwave systems are more expensive than autoclaves but are easier to use and operate. It treats the same kind of wastes as autoclaves. (Source: DoH Health Care Waste Management Manual)
Contact
Sonia G. Astudillo, Communications Officer, +63 918 9182369, sonia@hcwh.org
Merci Ferrer, Executive Director, +63 920 9056113
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.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
ILIGTAS SA BASURA ANG ‘PINAS
Envi-health group to DoH: Ensure implementation of proper waste disposal during measles vaccination program
Environmental-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today calls on the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure the proper waste management and disposal of syringes and other materials that will be used in the month-long measles vaccination program1 that commenced this April.
In 2004, HCWH, in coordination with the DoH and World Health Organization (WHO) lead the monitoring and documentation of proper waste management and disposal during the Philippine Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC). “What we found out is that proper and safe disposal of syringe is possible and at a very minimal cost,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer, who led the documentation team. “This time around, the DoH should again see to it that it does not ignore proper waste management and disposal for PMEC 2011.”
In 2004, the vaccination program targeted 18 million children. In over a month, the volume of wastes collected totaled to 19.5 million syringes or 130,000 kg of sharp waste. Add to that are 72,000 kg of non-hazardous wastes such as empty vials and ampoules, syringe wrappers, empty vitamin capsules, cotton swabs, syringe caps and packaging. The DoH in its guidebook recommended the collection of syringe in a 5-liter safety box and its treatment using autoclave or microwave facilities which use heat to kill microbes in waste and disposal through encasement in a concrete septic vault or burial in a waste pit.
Alternative waste treatment
“While news on the vaccination program pays no heed to waste treatment and disposal, we would like to point out that there are alternative technologies such as Microwave and Autoclave to treat what we estimate would again be more than 200,000 kg of medical waste,” said Ferrer.
“The alternatives are available in some areas in the country,” Ferrer added. “But in cases where they are not, local government engineers could help construct the waste burial pits for disposal of used syringes during the vaccination program,” said Ferrer.
“In 2004, the country just banned the use of medical waste incinerators,” said Ferrer. “So it was quite new for us to handle waste from a nationwide vaccination program without resorting to incineration or open burning. But it proved feasible as evidenced by the successful waste management which was eventually cited in several international papers and conferences.”
In the 2004 report, the cheapest method to dispose of waste is thru the simple clay-lined burial pits. The clay was used to minimize groundwater contamination. The next cheapest methods were using autoclave or microwave technology.
“Eight years of non-incineration and new technologies in safely treating and disposing wastes have come out,” said Ferrer.
Yes to measles vaccination, yes to proper waste management
“What we are saying here is that we need to address the measles issues from all angles,” said Ferrer. “We do the nationwide vaccination program to address the more than 2,000 cases of measles and we look at the other issues that come along the program and there enters proper waste management.”
The group likewise reminded the DoH to be proactive in funding projects that will address the issue in all fronts referring to the 100 M budget for autoclave which was in the 2008 General Appropriations Act. This budget was never released despite appeal from then Health Sec. Francisco Duque to Malacanang saying the release of said fund would enable the 16 recipient hospitals to treat regulated medical waste in accordance with national policies on health care waste management and redound to the benefit of welfare of the Filipino people.
“Had the budget been released, this could very well be used to treat the wastes that will come from the vaccination program,” said Ferrer.
For 2012, HCWH-SEA and the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI) for health is proposing to DoH for it to include in their 2012 budget the amount of P100M for purchase of waste treatment technology under the Health Facility Enhancement Program.
“With the lack of waste disinfection treatment like autoclave, people will continuously be exposed to diseases especially since a large part of the country’s medical waste ends up in dumpsites that remain open to scavengers or scavenging despite laws and regulations to the contrary.”
Download Waste Management and Disposal During the Philippine Follow-up Measles Campaign 2004 report at http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/waste/Waste_Mgmt_PMEC_2004.pdf
1 The DoH allocated 600 M for the project Iligtas sa Tigdas ang ‘Pinas to buy and distribute vaccines, needles, and syringes, mobilize health workers and produce communication materials and vaccinate over 18 million children.
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 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.
Environmental-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today calls on the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure the proper waste management and disposal of syringes and other materials that will be used in the month-long measles vaccination program1 that commenced this April.
In 2004, HCWH, in coordination with the DoH and World Health Organization (WHO) lead the monitoring and documentation of proper waste management and disposal during the Philippine Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC). “What we found out is that proper and safe disposal of syringe is possible and at a very minimal cost,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer, who led the documentation team. “This time around, the DoH should again see to it that it does not ignore proper waste management and disposal for PMEC 2011.”
In 2004, the vaccination program targeted 18 million children. In over a month, the volume of wastes collected totaled to 19.5 million syringes or 130,000 kg of sharp waste. Add to that are 72,000 kg of non-hazardous wastes such as empty vials and ampoules, syringe wrappers, empty vitamin capsules, cotton swabs, syringe caps and packaging. The DoH in its guidebook recommended the collection of syringe in a 5-liter safety box and its treatment using autoclave or microwave facilities which use heat to kill microbes in waste and disposal through encasement in a concrete septic vault or burial in a waste pit.
Alternative waste treatment
“While news on the vaccination program pays no heed to waste treatment and disposal, we would like to point out that there are alternative technologies such as Microwave and Autoclave to treat what we estimate would again be more than 200,000 kg of medical waste,” said Ferrer.
“The alternatives are available in some areas in the country,” Ferrer added. “But in cases where they are not, local government engineers could help construct the waste burial pits for disposal of used syringes during the vaccination program,” said Ferrer.
“In 2004, the country just banned the use of medical waste incinerators,” said Ferrer. “So it was quite new for us to handle waste from a nationwide vaccination program without resorting to incineration or open burning. But it proved feasible as evidenced by the successful waste management which was eventually cited in several international papers and conferences.”
In the 2004 report, the cheapest method to dispose of waste is thru the simple clay-lined burial pits. The clay was used to minimize groundwater contamination. The next cheapest methods were using autoclave or microwave technology.
“Eight years of non-incineration and new technologies in safely treating and disposing wastes have come out,” said Ferrer.
Yes to measles vaccination, yes to proper waste management
“What we are saying here is that we need to address the measles issues from all angles,” said Ferrer. “We do the nationwide vaccination program to address the more than 2,000 cases of measles and we look at the other issues that come along the program and there enters proper waste management.”
The group likewise reminded the DoH to be proactive in funding projects that will address the issue in all fronts referring to the 100 M budget for autoclave which was in the 2008 General Appropriations Act. This budget was never released despite appeal from then Health Sec. Francisco Duque to Malacanang saying the release of said fund would enable the 16 recipient hospitals to treat regulated medical waste in accordance with national policies on health care waste management and redound to the benefit of welfare of the Filipino people.
“Had the budget been released, this could very well be used to treat the wastes that will come from the vaccination program,” said Ferrer.
For 2012, HCWH-SEA and the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI) for health is proposing to DoH for it to include in their 2012 budget the amount of P100M for purchase of waste treatment technology under the Health Facility Enhancement Program.
“With the lack of waste disinfection treatment like autoclave, people will continuously be exposed to diseases especially since a large part of the country’s medical waste ends up in dumpsites that remain open to scavengers or scavenging despite laws and regulations to the contrary.”
Download Waste Management and Disposal During the Philippine Follow-up Measles Campaign 2004 report at http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/waste/Waste_Mgmt_PMEC_2004.pdf
1 The DoH allocated 600 M for the project Iligtas sa Tigdas ang ‘Pinas to buy and distribute vaccines, needles, and syringes, mobilize health workers and produce communication materials and vaccinate over 18 million children.
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 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.
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