Hospital Launches Pilot Project to Eliminate Mercury-Containing Medical Devices

China — After the successful pilot implementation of the substitution of mercury containing medical devices in Qinhuangdao Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital (QMCHH) launched in August 2011, Qinhuangdao Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital (QCDH) is the second hospital in the city to conduct mercury-containing medical devices substitution.

The project is being supported by international organizations such as Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) as well as by national organizations such as Qinhuangdao Municipal Committee of China National Democratic Construction Association (QMCCNDCA), Sino-Union Create of Qinhuangdao (SUCQ) and Global Village of Beijing Environmental Education Center (GVB).

Qinhuangdao Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital is one of the few hospitals in China that is conducting mercury-containing medical devices substitution. The announcement is a positive step forward in contributing to global efforts to substitute mercury-based medical devices while protecting China's health professionals, patients and the environment from the negative impacts of mercury.

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of more than 500 organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. Visit the HCWH website for more information.