by Lovely A. Carillo
Two major hospitals in Davao City that have started implementing a mercury-free zone are expected to be in the forefront of the country’s medical tourism.
Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of over 470 organizations working for ecologically sustainable healthcare, reported that two of the city’s hospitals are no longer using mercury in their health care equipment.
“We are glad to note that Davao Doctors Hospital and Brokenshire are no longer using mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers,” HealthCare Without Harm Coordinator for Southeast Asia Mercy Ferrer, said during the business forum Club 888 held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City Wednesday.
Of the two hospitals, only Davao Doctors has applied with the Department of Tourism’s accreditation program. DOT 11 director Sonia Garcia confirmed this, but encouraged other hospitals to apply for accreditation since it is necessary if they are accepting foreign patients.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, chair of the council committee on international relations, said the city is looking into the promotion of medical tourism within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area. She said medical tourism is one of the areas included in the sisterhood agreement between Davao City and the cities of Manado and Bitung in Indonesia.
Garcia’s pronouncement that the region is ready for medical tourism in terms of health and wellness in derma, spa or vision is further bolstered by the move of DDH and Brokenshire to stop using mercury thermometers.
Davao Doctors Hospital
DDH medical director Dr. Celia Castillo said they are gearing up for medical tourism and based on their recent investments in state of the art facilities and services, the hospital is indeed preparing to become not just the premiere hospital in Mindanao but also in the country.
A tourism-accredited facility will be given tax incentives for imported medical equipment. At present, DDH boasts of a 10-storey medical tower which houses the doctors’ clinics. The hospital building is also being improved and restructured. But more than that, the hospital has an army of medical specialists in different fields.
Mercury-free hospitals
Health Care Without Harm is intensifying its campaign against the use of mercury thermometers. Ferrer said they appreciate the move of the two Davao hospitals to rid their facilities of mercury-laden health equipment.
Former health secretary Francisco Duque issued DOH Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by September 11, 2010.
Ferrer however said while the deadline is fast approaching, it is sad to note that there are several hospitals that are not even aware of the AO. Other hospitals maybe aware of it, she added, but are still using their existing mercurial devices.
“We call on government agencies such as the Departments of Health, Energy and Environment to help push and implement the phasing out of mercury in health care,” she said. Healthcare facilities use thermometers and other blood pressure monitoring apparatus that are highly neuro-toxins that do not only poison the brain but also the heart and the whole body but also the waters and the environment, she added.
Ferrer said they are pushing for DOH secretary Esperanza Cabral to implement their 6-point agenda to ultimately phase out mercury in the country’s health care facilities.
This includes massive information dissemination of the AO 21 provisions to local government units that are responsible for managing rural, barangay, city and municipal health units.
“We are urging DOH to cease the issuance of permits to medical devices that sell mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers,” she said.
Ferrer said they are also campaigning for the release of the P13.2 million allocated under the 2009 General Appropriations Act for the purchase of non-mercurial devices for 66 government-controlled hospitals.
She said there are more than 20 student victims of mercury poisoning in St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque in 2006 and their situations and health should be followed up. These children have been chelated but said there should also be a continuance of the program to replace mercury devices in hospitals and the ban of mercury importation in the country.
While most heavy metals can be flushed out of the body, mercury easily and tightly binds with enzymes containing sulfhydryl as well as with other proteins in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, brain and liver. Thus, it is difficult to detect mercury in the blood, hair or urine once a certain period of time has elapsed after exposure.
Ferrer said AO 21 mandated the gradual phase our of mercury thermometers in both public and private hospitals. The group has even asked the commitments of the Presidentiables in their campaign versus mercury thermometers. A Green Health Covenant was also signed by Cabral to urge candidates to support the mercury-free Philippines campaign.
Reports show that 16 hospitals under the jurisdiction of DOH in Manila have complied with the order and have replaced their mercury-containing apparatus. Among these are the San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, National Center for Mental Health and East Avenue Medical Center among others. Among those that have not yet complied with the order are the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center and the National Children’s Hospital.
While the campaign to eradicate mercury-containing apparatus in hospitals seems to be gaining a little ground, the campaign against mercury poisoning does not end there because mercury is also present in batteries, amalgam dental fillings, toys and even jewelries.
In the meantime, tourists whose primary intention is to avail of the country’s affordable and quality medical services will prefer hospitals that are guaranteed to be free from mercury when it comes to healthcare equipment. With this, Davao City’s goal of becoming the medical tourism center in this part of the globe may just become possible.
