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What's New
Philippines— HCWH South East Asia and other citizens' groups demand the Government of the Philippines for a total ban of endosulfan for any use and revoke all exemptions immediately. Join the statement and help us build a toxics-free future. Read More
Global— HCWH US released three new informative and potentially useful reports on Healthy Food in Health Care, Addressing Climate Change and a Guide to Choosing Safer Products and Chemicals. They can be downloaded by clicking on their names.
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.
Global— Act now to stop European Union waste policy from taking a step backwards! You can help sending an email to the European Parliament here
Pakistan— Environmental Law Attorney and resident of Karachi files a Pro-bono petition under the Constitutional Jurisdiction of Pakistan on the hazardous effects of medical waste incineration. Read More
Global— Environmental LawA Community Guide to Environmenal Health is a new resource for people worldwide battling the effects of environemental degradation on community health. Find out more
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
Global— The World Medical Association has just 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.
Philippines— Health Care Without Harm investigates hospitals in Manila and finds many PVC products that can easily be replaced with safer alternatives. Read press release.
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).
Europe-- 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.
Nigeria-- Health Care Without Harm is happy to welcome the Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) of Edo State, Nigeria as a new member of the campaign. You can read more about the CREDC on their website.
Global— Several organizations, including Health Care Without Harm have launched an international effort to raise awareness about the harms of toxic chemicals and to advance initiatives related to protecting human and environmental health. Read and have your organization sign onto the Common Statement here.
Philippines— HCWH and a group of civil society organizations condemned the Philippine president's veto of a bill which froze interest payments on loans that bankrolled the transfer of substandard Austrian medical waste incinerators to twenty-six Philippine hospitals. The groups claim that the interest payments divert key funds from essential health care expenditures. Read more.
European Union—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.
India -- The Tamil Nadu state pollution control board and, various stakeholders, including HCWH partner organization Toxics Link have worked out an integrated health care waste management plan. read article.
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
India -- Delhi Government hospitals are on the fast track to eliminate toxic heavy metal mercury from the health-care system. Read article.
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 press release. Read the Press Release.
Philippines-- Under pressure from HCWH and the Social Watch budget group, the Philippine House of Representatives approved a US$156 million increase in the health budget, including $2.3 million for autoclaves to treat medical waste. The bill now moves to the Senate. is making nearly $2 million a year in debt payments for obsolete Austrian medical waste incinerators. Read article.
Global News-- The World Health Organization has just published Core Principles for achieving safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste. These will be a significant tool to raise awareness, increase political commitment and raise resources. HCWH has signed on to these principles and invites our institutions and organizations to express their commitment to these principles..
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 Press Release. Read the Johannesburg Declaration. Read more press coverage
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.
New Report on Mercury in Health Care-- 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).
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