Most gov't hospitals comply with mercury ban (7:45 p.m.)

MANILA -- The health department has reported that 16 out of 20 public hospitals in Metro Manila have fully complied with the government order to phase out the use of all healthcare devices that contain mercury.

The list of 16 fully-compliant hospitals include San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Valenzuela Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, East Avenue Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Rizal Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

The only four remaining hospitals that have yet to comply with the order are National Children’s Hospital, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, and National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

But the Department of Health (DOH) assured that the four hospitals would comply soon as they are still awaiting equipment replacements.

The phase-out is in keeping with Administrative Order 2008-0021, which mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.

DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral said t mercury must be phased out because of the harmful effects it brings to a person's health.

Mercury, a silvery-white liquid, can damage the nervous, digestive, respiratory, endocrine and immune systems.

It can also cause tremors, impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia, emotional instability, developmental effects on a fetus, and attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood, the health department said.

“With all the hazards posed by mercury, it is high time that we complete the implementation of its total phase-out in all hospitals and health facilities,” Cabral said.

DOH earlier ordered the gradual phase-out of devices containing mercury in September 2008 when then Secretary Francisco Duque gave hospitals and clinics two years to switch to alternative equipment. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)