| June 17,
2008 Philippines |
The Department
of Health is set to release an administrative order imposing
a total ban on the use of mercury-based thermometers and
blood pressure devices. The
Manila Bulletin reports. |
June 05, 2008 Philippines
|
HCWH Southeast
Asia praised the Philippine Department of Health for drafting
an Administrative Order that, once finalized, will phase-out
mercury-based medical devices. Read
full article |
| May 2008
Global |
The World
Medical Association has published an article documenting
the global shift toward mercury free health care, authored
by Dr. Peter Orris of the University of Chicago together
with HCWH. Read
it here. |
May 24, 2008
Costa Rica |
Costa Rica—
Government is taking the first steps in a national plan
to eliminate and substitute mercury in health care. Read
more (in Spanish only). |
| |
The EU has
laudably agreed to implement a Europe-wide ban on mercury
and to safely store the surplus. However, mercury-containing
products, such as thermometers, which are forbidden in Europe,
were not included in the export ban. Read the press release
from HCWH and its allies.. Read the joint press release
here. |
March 28,
2008
EU |
The EU Parliament
took another step toward a strong mercury export ban that
includes medical devices. A full Parliament vote will take
place in April and the proposed regulation must also be
approved by the European Council of Ministers. Read the
press release from HCWH and its allies. Read the joint press
release here. |
February 14, 2008
Argentina
|
Another
Argentine hospital has signed the letter of intent to eliminate
mercury. Hospital Rural Dr. Hector Agustin Monteoliva, from
the Province of Rio Negro joined well over one hundred other
Latin American hospitals, four entire provinces in Argentina
and the health care system of the city of Buenos Aires in
committing to eliminate mercury-based medical devices from
their operations. For a list of these institutions, click
here. |
January 10
2008
India |
Delhi Government
hospitals are on the fast track to eliminate toxic heavy
metal mercury from the health-care system. Read full press
article here. |
November
16, 2007
Thailand |
A meeting
of the world's governments sponsored by the United Nations
Environment Programme built "momentum towards establishing
a global treaty to control mercury pollution," said
a coalition of NGOs, including Health Care Without Harm.
Read the joint press release here. |
October 2007
South Africa |
The African
delegates have resolved to move away from mercury health
care equipment and products containing mercury and call
on African governments to develop policies that will phase
out the use of mercury in hospitals and other health institutions
in the region. Read the HCWH press release here |
October 23,
2007
Taiwan |
The Taiwanese Environmental
Protection Administration (EPA) has drafted regulations
to ban mercury thermometers with the goal of phasing them
out completely and replacing them with electronic thermometers.
Read
the story |
October 18,
2007
Global |
Health Care
Without Harm has released a new report, “The Global
Movement for Mercury Free Health Care,” documenting
how health care systems around the world are substituting
mercury-based medical devices with environmentally sound
alternatives. Read
the press release or download
the report (1.7MB). |
July 10 2007
EU |
The EU has
passed a law banning the sale of mercury thermometers for
use in healthcare. In future, there will be fewer mercury
spills in hospitals and less environmental contamination
from incorrect disposal of mercury thermometers. Read the
HCWH press release here |
|
The New Delhi
health department has set up a high level committee to create
plans to do away with mercury in health care in India's
capital city. Read press
coverage |
March 12,
2007
Argentina |
Hospital
Fernández in the City of Buenos Aires announced its
commitment to phase out mercury. As a result of an initiative
undertaken by the Toxicology Unit together with the support
of the Health Care Without Harm Campaign, Hospital Fernandez
will substitute all mercury thermometers with mercury-free
alternatives. See the press
release. |
May 4, 2006
SE Asia |
The
conference report of the Southeast Asia Conference on Mercury
in Health Care is now available. Read about the outcomes
of the conference and the plans of the working groups created
during the conference here. |
Feb 2006
Asia |
|
Jan
31, 2006
Philippines |
|
Nov 11, 2005
Global |
Mercury-free
health care website launched today, in anticipation
of the first South East Asia Conference on Alternatives
to Mercury in Health Care, Jan. 25-26, 2006 in the Philippines. |
Nov
10, 2005
India |
The Central Pollution Control Board has written to all State
Pollution Control Boards to make the segregation of mercury-contaminated
bio-waste a condition for granting authorisation to the
healthcare centres.Read
The Hindu article |
Sep 27, 2005
US |
Major health
care industry trend toward safer alternatives detected .
Read the National
Survey that shows most hospitals are eliminating mercury.
|
Sep 12, 2005
India |
Following
a report by Toxics Link, an HCWH Partner in India, some
big hospitals in Delhi have decided to get rid of the highly
potent neuro and nephro-toxic substance. Read
the news from The Times of India. |
Jun 27, 2005
EU |
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