Health Care Without Harm News

The European Parliament calls for better protection of human health from Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

Health Care Without Harm Europe welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution on the protection of public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) (1), adopted today by the Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI Committee). more 

HCWH Europe Recruiting Communication Intern Feb to Apr 2013

Health Care Without Harm Europe is recruiting a Communication Intern for a three-month period from Feb to April 2013. more 

France’s Important Move Towards Phasing Out Phthalates in Medical Devices

Today France passed a law that for the first time bans the use of tubes containing di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in paediatrics, neonatology and maternity wards in hospitals. more 

Pollute and Monitor – Pharmaceuticals in Water

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on a Commission’s legislative proposal that adds 15 new chemicals to a list of 33 identified hazardous chemicals (“priority substances list”) and sets safe concentration limits in water for them.  more 

HCWH Joins Proposal to Reduce Water Pollution Risks

Brussels-based environmental NGOs, including HCWH Europe, have joint together to support the inclusion of three pharmaceuticals on the "priority substances list" in the field of water policy meaning that they should be monitored and concentration limits should be set for them. more 

EU to phase-out mercury blood pressure devices

Health Care Without Harm(HCWH), the European Environment Bureau (EEB) and the Zero Mercury Working Group today applauded the EU’s decision to take off the market mercury sphygmomanometers and other measuring devices for industrial and professional use starting April 2014 (i). more 

Healthcare Professionals met at CleanMed Europe 2012 to discuss transformation of health provision

350 attendees from 34 countries and 5 continents met for CleanMed Europe 2012 in Malmö, Sweden last week to discuss and share best practice of sustainable healthcare provision in Europe and beyond. more 

Better Flooring Choice could reduce Workers and Patient’s Exposure to harmful Chemicals

Health Care Without Harm Europe today launches a new report: “Healthy & Sustainable Flooring, choosing resilient flooring for the European healthcare sector” in the run-up to the CleanMed Europe conference in Malmö, Sweden, 26-28th September 2012 more 

Ministers debate but do not decide on Europe’s energy mix

HCWH Europe, associated member of CAN Europe is glad to see Ministers’ recognition of the key role that renewable energies will play in the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable energy economy, but insist that industry needs to receive a clear message that the EU will continue to rely on renewable energies after 2020 in order to achieve its decarbonisation goals and at the same time boost economic growth. more 

CleanMed Europe invites you!

Watch our promotional video on why to come to the CleanMed Europe sustainable healthcare conference in Malmö/Sweden in September 2012. more 

NGOs send letter to EU Environment Ministers asking for measures to address chemicals

HCWH, Health and Environment Alliance, European Environmental Bureau, PAN-Europe, ChemSec, and other organizations wrote a letter to the EU Environment Ministers to ask for measures to address endocrine disruptors (EDCs), chemical mixtures and nanomaterials, as well as a better protection from substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the 7th Environment Action Programme (7th EAP).  more 

NGOs send letter to EU asking for support to phase-out mercury use in dentistry

Different NGOs sent a letter asking the EU to submit any additional relevant information to the EC per the earlier BIOS request, and at the same time send a clear message of support of phase-outs of mercury from dentistry at the EU level and globally. more 

Pharmaceuticals in water - Token control – instead of real protection

Today the EU Commission published a proposal to revise existing water legislation to curb chemical pollution in Europe’s water systems. For the first time three pharmaceuticals (1) are listed, but the number of substances for control is disappointingly low to ensure protecting Europe’s water from toxic chemicals. more 

Commission climate paper analyses Europe can save billions and set higher climate targets

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe welcomes the Commission’s report published today, that analyses the costs and benefits of moving beyond the EU’s current 20% emissions reduction target. more 

HCWH Europe recruiting Communication Intern Feb- April 2013

Health Care Without Harm Europe, based in Brussels, is recruiting a Communication Intern for a three-month period from February to April 2013. HCWH Europe is active in 23 countries of the WHO Euro region and has 68 European members. more 

HCWH Europe is recruiting a Communication Intern January - March 2013

Health Care Without Harm Europe is recruiting a Communication Intern for a three-month period Jan 2013 – March 2013. more 

Project: Network Building Ecology for hospitals

HCWH Europe participates in a project for sustainable development in healthcare buildings. more 

Health leaders call for urgent action on climate

International health leaders in Durban for the global climate talks have called on negotiators to push for the most ambitious commitments possible, warning that the direction of current negotiations risks the lives of billions of people around the globe. more 

HCWH Launches Global Environmental Health Agenda for Hospitals

ealth Care Without Harm today launched a new initiative designed to foster greater ecological sustainability and environmental health in the health care sector around the world. more 

Fewer carbon emissions means better health and greater productivity

HCWH and other european non-governmental organisations hope to share recent findings on the health and economic benefits of tackling climate change with senior government officials and other top policy makers in Warsaw and Poznan this week. more 

Climate Work in Poland

As part of our work on climate change, Dr Pendo Maro from Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Christina Reinards from the Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL) were in Poland on 19 -23 September 2011 to share recent findings on the health and economic benefits of tackling climate change with senior government officials and other top policy makers in Warsaw and Poznan. more 

Scientists and NGOs Slam Commission's Research Funding Plans

In an open letter sent today to the President and Members of the European Commission as well as the European Parliament and the EU Member states, 98 civil society and research organisations from 22 European countries warn that the Commission's draft proposals for the next Research funding framework (2014-2020) fail to address the real challenges faced by European societies. more 

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals under REACH: Four Priority Areas for Regulation

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been linked with several health problems including the deterioration of male reproductive health, the increased incidence of hormone related cancers and the increase in cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. HCWH and other organisations call upon the European Commission, Member States and relevant European institutions to Act Now. more 

Climate: ENVI Committee Vote Cheered By Two Major Health Groups

The combined voices of Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the two leading health and environment groups working at the European level, have voiced their strong approval following the ENVI Committee vote today in support for a 30% EU reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. more 

TODAY Release of SIN List 2.0: Combatting Substances of Very High Concern under REACH

Today HCWH's Anja Leetz attends the release of ChemSec's SIN List 2.0 which focuses on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Chemsec will launch a concrete tool for action on highly problematic EDCs. The first set of chemicals identified as Substances of Very High Concern under REACH solely due to their endocrine disrupting properties will be presented today in Brussels. These 22 substances, many of them commonly found in toys, food packaging, and cosmetics, have been incorporated into the SIN List 2.0. more 

HCWH attends Public Hearing on Endocrine Disrupters and Launch of SIN 2.0

On 3rd of May Anja Leetz, executive director of HCWH Europe will attend a "Public Hearing on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals - from Ambition to Action" in Brussels. The 2.0 version of the SIN List will be launched at this event, listing new chemicals selected specifically for their endocrine-disrupting properties. more 

HCWH Europe attends Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship

HCWH executive director Anja Leetz, along with over 800 delegates from around the world, attended this year's Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship in March 2011 in Oxford. more 

HCWH Europe attends CAN-E AGM

This week Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor for HCWH Europe attended the Climate Action Network Europe’s AGM.  more 

Pendo Maro from HCWH attends Hungarian annual environmental NGO gathering

Pendo Maro from HCWH attends Hungarian annual environmental NGO gathering, invited by Clean Air Action Group (CAAG) Hungary. Pendo presented the findings of the HCWH and HEAL report "Acting Now for better Health" as they relate to Hungary in particular and to the EU in general.  more 

Failure of MEP talks on 'novel foods'

MEPs have reacted with dismay following the breakdown of talks on a new 'novel food' regulation. All-night conciliation talks to update the Novel Foods Regulation broke down without agreement after Council refused a final compromise offer from the European Parliament. The main sticking point was whether there should be a ban on food from cloned animals and their descendants, which parliament called for last July. The breakdown of the all-night talks means that the 14-year-old regulation remains in force. more 

HCWH Europe Comments on the ECHA Annex XV Restriction Report on Mercury From June 15, 2010

Recent research indicates that, for some parts of the population, there is no such thing as a safe exposure level for mercury. HCWH Europe welcomes the proposal for restrictions of mercury based measuring instruments and is pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the Annex XV restriction report by the European Chemical Agency. more 

Input to the Working Party on Environment - Mercury Strategy: Need for Strong Council Conclusions

The European Commission has published a revised Community Strategy Concerning Mercury in December 2010. HCWH Europe, EEB, HEAL and ZMWG are now expecting the EU Council conclusions on the strategy and have urged the council to strengthen the strategy an numerous ways.  more 

Toxic Christmas Gift: Council Decides to Keep Hazardous Biocides

The Environment Council of the European Union adopted its political agreement on a new authorisation system for household pesticides and other biocides. HCWH and other environment and health NGOs criticize the EU environment ministers’ approach because their decision will allow continued wide circulation of highly toxic consumer products on the market. more 

NGOs Urge EU Not to Take Back Seat on Mercury Treaty

Environmental and Health NGOs are deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision not to propose new restrictions on mercury until a global treaty is signed, in the recently adopted revised EU Mercury Strategy. more 

Message to EU Delegation: Don't Forget the Health Dividend

A "Cancun Climate and Health Statement" to be announced today, during Health Day in Cancun, highlights the benefits to health of strong climate change policy. It has been sent to European Union delegates and members of the European Parliament delegation taking part in the climate change talks in Mexico. more 

Health and Fiscal Co-benefits of Emissions Reductions: Summary for Negotiators

HCWH Europe, together with the Climate and Health Council and the Health & Environment Alliance, presented a one page briefing for negotiators on climate in Cancun, Dec. 2010. This briefing states clearly the health and fiscal co-benefits of emissions reductions. more 

Environment and Public Health Brussels Statement

HCWH Europe took part in the roundtable discussion on ‘Science and Policy’ at the High Level Expert Meeting on Environment and Public Health (EPH) in Modern Society and contributed to the final statement calling for protection from environmental pollution and other hazards and calls for rapid transformation from research into policy. more 

EP Fails to Protect Consumers and the Environment From Biocides

The European Parliament has set the course for a new European system concerning the authorisation and marketing of biocides for household and other uses. PAN Germany, PAN Europe, HEAL, HCWH Europe, WECF and EEB criticise the EP vote on the biocide regulation. more 

30% Emissions Reduction Target Could Save Public Health Billions

The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe, provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the European Union move from the current 20% target to a 30% target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. more 

Evidence of Huge Boost to Public Health From Stronger Climate Policy

A report to be launched next Tuesday, 14 September 2010 analyses the health benefits for Europeans of stronger EU action on climate change, and reframes the current discussions from climate costs to climate benefits, particularly for people’s health and healthcare systems. more 

HCWH Contributes to EU Strategy on Mercury

HCWH Europe participated in the consultation process of the review of the European strategy on mercury and called for the mercury export ban to be extended to the export of products containing mercury — including mercury medical devices. more 

Mercury-Free Health Care – Toward the Tipping Point

As the world’s governments begin negotiations to forge a mercury treaty, WHO and HCWH have issued a two-year progress report on the global Mercury-Free Health Care Initiative. more 

Health Groups Call for 40% Target on Carbon Emissions

Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) are calling on EU Heads of States to increase the European target on climate change. more 

Post-Copenhagen Position Statement

The UN negotiations did not deliver the legally binding agreement needed for reducing emissions to protect the climate and people’s health. Rather, world leaders managed to come up with a “letter of intent”, a non-binding declaration without clear commitments from any government. more 

Tackling the Twin Threats of Climate Change and the Global Health Gap

Student and professional health leaders to offer a Prescription for a Healthy Planet - emphasizing the twinned opportunity decision-makers have to tackle climate change, AND to narrow the global health gap between rich and poor. more 

HEAL and HCWH Announce Top-Level Delegation and Daily Briefings at COP-15 Negotiations

HEAL and HCWH are leading a 20-person, international delegation of health leaders to the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen.The health delegation will conduct daily ad-hoc briefings. more 

Health Impact of Climate Change Recognised in European Parliament Resolution

In a plenary vote on its Resolution on Climate Change, the European Parliament has today recognised the need to consider public health, as well as the co- benefits of emission reductions to global health.(1) more 

Health Leaders Call for Strong Measures on Climate Change

Some of the world's largest medical, nursing and public health organisations are calling on world leaders to take bold action to address climate change to avert what could become a global public health crisis. more 

Time to End Use of Mercury-Based Blood Pressure Devices

European environmental and health organisations today reaffirm their demand for the rapid phase-out of mercury-based blood pressure devices used in clinical settings, and ask the EU to act on the findings in a recently published European Commission report. more 

Vassiliou Welcomes Health Community's "Prescription" on Climate Change

HCWH and HEAL handed a giant "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" to European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. The health community is asking the EU to provide a better treatment for the ailing climate negotiations. more 

Launch of "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" Campaign

HCWH Europe and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) will hand a giant "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" to European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou on Tuesday, 6 October. The health community is asking the EU to provide better "treatment" for the ailing United Nations climate negotiations. more 

Turning Up the Pressure: Phasing out Mercury Measuring Devices in Hospitals

HCWH and other leading environmental and health NGOs released a report at a conference in Brussels clearly demonstrating that the transition to mercury-free measuring devices including sphygmomanometers in hospitals is technologically and economically feasible. more 

Call For "Health Check" at Climate Change Talks

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Healthcare Without Harm Europe (HCWH) say that although human health is already being seriously affected by climate change, less than 1% of government participants involved in the process are from the health sector. more 

Health Care Can Help Lead the Fight Against Climate Change

HCWH and WHO issued a discussion paper on the threats of climate change to human health and how the health-sector can play a leadership role in reducing the magnitude and consequences of global warming. more 

Proyecto Luminarias Launched

Health Care Without Harm and The Luminary Project are pleased to announce the launch of Proyecto Luminarias, a Spanish language version of The Luminary Project which highlights the stories of nurses in Spanish speaking countries who are addressing environmental concerns in health care. more 

Dannon Latest to Yield to Health Industry Demands

Dannon has announced to Health Care Without Harm that it will stop using milk from cattle injected with the growth hormone rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) to make its yogurt products by the end of 2009. Dannon responded less than two weeks after competitor Yoplait announced its own plans to eliminate rBGH from its product line. Both companies announced their plans after a number of major health facilities announced their intentions to provide only dairy products produced without rBGH to their patients, staff and visitors. more 

HCWH Lauds Catholic Healthcare West for Rejecting Genetically Engineered and Cloned Foods

The nation's leading Catholic hospital system took the position in recognition of the serious health, environmental and ethical concerns raised by these untested technologies. The decision of CHW to include GE sugar beets in its new food policy has significance for the entire health care food market and perhaps, the entire sugar beet industry. more