2 solons want to ban mercury in health care facilities

MANILA, Philippines - Two Mindanao-based lawmakers have filed a bill banning the use of mercury in all health care facilities nationwide.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. said House bill 4067 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.

If instant banning is not applicable, health care facilities shall follow the guidelines for the gradual phase-out of mercury provided under the proposed Act, Rodriguez said.

Violators will get a fine from P500,000 to P1 million.

Rodriguez said mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that is fatal if inhaled and harmful if absorbed through skin.

"Around 80 percent of the inhaled mercury vapor is absorbed in the blood through the lungs. It may cause harmful effects to the nervous, digestive, respiratory, immune systems and to the kidneys, besides causing lung damage," Rodriguez said.

Mercury exposure 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, he added.

Rodriguez said no less than the World Health Organization concluded in 1991 that a safe level of mercury exposure has never been established.

"Many countries all over the world have banned the use of mercury-containing devices and thermometers and it is high time that the Philippines also ban the same," Rodriguez said.

He sought the immediate passage of the bill saying this will strengthen and give more teeth to Administrative Order No. 2008-0021 issued by the Department of Health providing for the gradual phase-out of mercury in all health care facilities and institutions.

The bill directs all health care facilities to implement within one year a consistent and predetermined Mercury Management and Minimization Program that raises awareness on the dangers posed by mercury and develop and promote the use of alternative to mercury-containing devices.

It also tasks all health care facilities to designate a Mercury Management Team, which shall conduct mercury audit, develop and manage a Mercury Minimization Program for their facility, conduct a facility-wide information campaign and employee education on the consequences of the continued use of mercury and identify and remove unnecessary practices that promote the use and distribution of mercury-containing devices.

The DOH is mandated under the bill to issue the orders, rules and regulations and other issuances necessary for the effective implementation of the proposed measure.