Model Policies
Global Policies
- The World Health Organization issued a policy paper (pdf) in 2005 calling for short, medium and long-term measures to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer alternatives.
- The World Medical Association passed a resolution (pdf) in 2008 calling for the substitution of mercury-based medical devices with safer alternatives.
National Policies
- The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order 2008-0021 (pdf) in 2008 calling for the phase-out of mercury based medical devices across the country by 2010.
- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) revised its accreditation policy and ordered non-accreditation of non mercury-free hospitals.
- The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular 2010-140 (pdf) enjoining all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, DILG regional directors, and other concerned, to ensure compliance to the Department of Health AO 21 mandating gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.
- Taiwan bans mercury thermometers (pdf).
Large City Policies
- The city government of Delhi, India, is developing a plan to phase out mercury-based medical devices (pdf) in hospitals under its jurisdiction.
Hospitals and Health Care Systems
A growing number of hospitals in developing countries are moving toward mercury free health care:
- In the Philippines, more than 600 hospitals are moving toward mercury free health care.
- Fifteen hospitals, three medical universities, two non-government organizations, a national medical association, and a local and environment and natural resources office have signed HCWH-AP Mercury Watch Campaign for 2010 mercury-free Philippines health care. The support statement is also demanding the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to provide storage for the mercury-containing devices that will be taken out of the hospitals.
- Two hospitals in China are taking the first steps toward mercury substitution in their country.
- In India more than a dozen hospitals have piloted mercury free health care.
For More Information see the Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care.