GEN SAN CITY, CENTRAL MINDANAO CHAMPION MERCURY AND WASTE ISSUES IN HOSPITALS

May 13, 2009

GEN SAN CITY, CENTRAL MINDANAO CHAMPION MERCURY AND WASTE ISSUES IN HOSPITALS

True to its tradition of producing champions, General Santos City and the rest of the Central Mindanao Region is producing yet another champion, this time champion hospitals—the greenest of the greens in hospitals.

In a symposium on environmental health with focus on mercury elimination and health care waste management, more than 80 representatives from hospitals, local government, Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) participated to work out an action plan for the greening of the hospitals.

“This only shows that GenSan City, Manny Pacquiao and the Central Mindanao will do more than a 2-round knockout for Ricky Hatton, we will even knock-out mercury devices in hospitals and do a thorough cleaning of our hospitals,” said Merci Ferrer, Executive Director of Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia.

In December 2008, HCWH and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a global initiative to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer, accurate and affordable alternatives by 2017. Earlier in August, the Philippine DoH signed Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of all mercury containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010.

“We are already on the lead. And Central Mindanao being home to one of the world’s boxing champ may also be home to champion hospitals,” Ferrer added.

The General Santos Doctors’ Hospital (GSDH) for one is an example of hospital who have already phased-out mercury thermometers and on the way to phasing-out sphygmomanometers.

According to Sr. Estelle Marie Camagan, Administrator of GSDH, “ever since we heard of the danger of mercury in hospitals, we did not have to think twice. The wisdom of mercury phase-out is too important to sacrifice.”

“By removing mercury in hospitals, we are not just protecting our patients and employees. We are also contributing to a healthier and cleaner environment.”

Dr. Daniel Yap, GSDH Medical Director, added that the shift to mercury alternatives may look impractical on the onset. “But once you take into consideration the danger of one thermometer breakage—clean-up costs and the risk to the patients, hospital employees and the community—moving away from mercury is our best option.”

“And with the alternatives locally available, it is doable and economically-feasible,” Yap added.

Mercury is fatal when inhaled and harmful if absorbed through the skin. High doses of vapors released by thermometer breakage may cause lung damage. While at lower doses it is harmful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

As early as 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a safe level of mercury exposure, below which there is no adverse effects, has never been established. In a policy paper they issued, it presented 3-pronged short, medium and long-term measures that include (a) development and implementation of plans to reduce the use of mercury equipment and replace it with alternatives, (b) increase efforts to reduce the risk of unnecessary mercury equipment in hospitals and (c) a ban of mercury-containing devices and promotion of alternatives.

The remaining question now is on the intermediate storage of phased-out mercury devices. Based on AO 21, hospitals must provide the temporary storage. “Since the AO, we have been receiving request and queries on intermediate storage. And with this, we urge the DENR to provide the storage,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury.”

“We are also urging all concerned parties—hospitals, LGUs, DoH—to work hand-in-had with the DENR,” she added. “We need all stakeholders to champion this cause or to knock it out.”

At the symposium, GSDH is also cited for its hospital waste management practices which involves vermi composting of biodegradable medical wastes. GSDH is recipient of several awards like the 2003 Healthy Hospital Award and the Quality Medical Care Service Award in 2005. It is also recognized as a partner in Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Award in 2004.

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 Officer for Mercury, +63 920 9327151; faye@hcwh.org