APRIL 28, 2014

NR # 3450

Solons seek ban on the use of mercury in health care facilities

Lawmakers have filed a bill banning the use of mercury in all health care facilities nationwide. Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, agayan de !ro ity" and #a$imo Rodriguez %r. (&arty'list, ()(#*+" said ,ouse bill -./0 mandates all hospitals, infirmaries, lying in institutions and medical clinics to immediately discontinue the use of mercury'containing devices and the distribution of mercury thermometers to patients. *f instant banning is not applicable, health care facilities shall follow the guidelines for the gradual phase'out of mercury provided under the proposed (ct, Rodriguez said. ( fine ranging from &1..,... to &2 million shall be slapped against any health care facility caught violating the provisions of the bill. Rodriguez said mercury is a highly to$ic heavy metal that is fatal if inhaled and harmful if absorbed through skin. 3(round 4.5 of the inhaled mercury vapor is absorbed in the blood through the lungs. *t may cause harmful effects to the nervous, digestive, respiratory, immune systems and to the kidneys, besides causing lung damage,6 Rodriguez said. #ercury e$posure can also trigger tremors, impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia, emotional instability, developmental deficits during fetal development and attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood, Rodriguez added. Rodriguez said no less than the 7orld ,ealth !rganization concluded in 2882 that a safe level of mercury e$posure has never been established. 3#any countries all over the world have banned the use of mercury'containing devices and thermometers and it is high time that the &hilippines also ban the same,6 Rodriguez said. ,e sought the immediate passage of the bill saying this will strengthen and give more teeth to (dministrative !rder +o. 2..4'..22 issued by the Department of ,ealth providing for the gradual phase'out of mercury in all health care facilities and institutions. 9he bill directs all health care facilities to implement within one year a consistent and predetermined #ercury #anagement and #inimization &rogram that raises awareness on the dangers posed by mercury and develop and promote the use of alternative to mercury'containing devices. *t also tasks all health care facilities to designate a #ercury #anagement 9eam, which shall conduct mercury audit, develop and manage a #ercury #inimization &rogram for their facility, conduct a facility'wide information campaign and employee education on the conse:uences of the continued use of mercury and identify and remove unnecessary practices that promote the use and distribution of mercury' containing devices. 9he Do, is mandated under the bill to issue the orders, rules and regulations and other issuances necessary for the effective implementation of the proposed act. (;." mrs