International envi-health group commends Phil Heart Center’s mercury sphygmo replacement plan

February 4, 2009

International envi-health group commends Phil Heart Center’s mercury sphygmo replacement plan

Manila – Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) commends the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) for its continuous move towards a safer and more environment friendly health care in the Philippines.

On the 34th Anniversary Celebration of the PHC with the theme Unity in Diversity: A Progressive PHC, the different committees working within the walls of the hospital, showcased their activities and plans for the next years.

“HCWH especially applauds the Health Care Waste Management Committee of PHC,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury. “This is the same Committee responsible for the phase-out of all mercury thermometers at Philippine Heart Center—one of the very 1st hospitals in the country to do so.”

Now, on its 34th year, among the main thrust of the Committee is to replace all of its mercury sphygmomanometers with viable alternatives.

According to Ester Borja, Head of the Waste Management Committee, “this shows that the Philippine Heart Center recognizes the urgent need to phase-out all mercury-containing devices in health care and the availability of alternatives in the country.”

“For several years, we have been using mercury alternatives and they are proving to be the best, especially if you take into consideration the danger mercury devices pose to patients, hospital workers, and the environment,” said Borja.

PHC’s phase-out plan is in accordance to DoH’s Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of thermometers, sphygmomanometer and other mercury-containing devices in all Philippine hospitals and health care by 2010.
The AO also mandates all hospitals to immediately discontinue the distribution of mercury thermometers in the patient’s admission/discharge kits. Further, it requires all hospitals to follow the guidelines for the gradual phase-out of mercury in two years.

Among the other plans and programs of the Waste Management Committee are (1) to replace mercury sphygmomanometers; (2) to develop a comprehensive, simple and doable manual of waste management; (3) to produce a video presentation of waste management program to be used in orientation and outreach programs; (4) to expand “Green Purchasing” system; (5) to coordinate with Safety and Risk Management Committee for concerns, issues and activities and sustain developing programs relative to waste management and patients safety; and (6) to improve waste management relative to pest control, guidelines and housekeeping practices.

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
Faye V. Ferrer, Program Officer for Mercury, +63 920 9327151, faye@hcwh.org