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Philippines

In the Philippines, this project is achieving the following objectives:

  1. Establish model facilities and programs to exemplify best practices in healthcare waste management.

  2. Deploy and evaluate commercially available, non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies appropriate to the needs of the Philippines.

  3. Introduce the use of mercury-free devices in model facilities, evaluate their acceptability and efficacy, and develop and disseminate awareness-raising and educational materials related to mercury.

  4. Establish or enhance training programs to build capacity for the implementation of best practices and technologies both within and beyond the model facilities and programs.

  5. Review relevant national policies, seek agreement by relevant authorities on recommended updates or reformulations as needed, seek agreement on an implementation plan and, if appropriate, assist in holding a policy review conference for these purposes.

  6. Disseminate project results and materials to stakeholders and hold conferences or workshops to encourage replication.

  7. Make project results on demonstrated best techniques and practices available for dissemination and scaling-up regionally.

*An additional project objective to develop, test, manufacture and deploy affordable, small-scale non-incineration technologies for use in sub-Saharan Africa is being achieved in Tanzania.

National Management Arrangements

The National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) assumes oversight for national project activities. The NPSC includes high-level government officials and other representatives with overall responsibility for the areas in which the project is carrying out activities. The National Working Group (NWG), composed of individuals from appropriate ministries, agencies and stakeholder groups who have practical involvement or interest in day-to-day project activities, provides advice and expertise to the NPSC on project-related policy, economic, scientific and technical issues. A national project coordinator, generally assisted by one or more national technical consultants, coordinates the implementation of day-to-day project activities. Learn more about how these arrangements fit into the project's global structure.

Learn more about the project's work in the Philippines related to model facilities, technology, mercury, the training program and national policy.  

Recent News in the Region

Argentina & Philippines: Major Strides For Mercury-Free Health Care: Argentina bans mercury blood pressure devices & the Philippines to ban import of mercury-based medical devices
Health Care Without Harm News
February 25th, 2010
Argentina and the Philippines, the two countries leading the developing world in substituting mercury-based medical devices with safe, accurate and affordable alternatives, took significant steps to implement and strengthen their national mercury-free health care policies.
Philippines: Department of Health calls for ban on mercury
Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 22nd, 2010
Citing global moves to ban mercury, the Department of Health said it would call for a ban on the importation of health products containing the highly-toxic substance.
Philippines: Pasig City- Thinking and Living Green
Health Care Without Harm News
September 23rd, 2009
In celebration of the first year anniversary of mercury phase-out in all Philippine hospitals, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia's fourth leg of blood pressure and temperature screening activity using mercury-free devices draws a big crowd in Pasig City. "We go around the different cities in the country to showcase that mercury-free alternatives in health care are available," said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury
Philippines: Philippine General Hospital to Go Mercury-Free
by Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA)
April 2nd, 2009
Philippine General Hospital, the premier tertiary hospital in the Philippines, announced that the hospital has "completely banned purchase of mercury devices." The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the country's government health insurance provider, will also no longer accredit hospitals that continue to use mercury devices.
Philippines: Hospitals, Medical Universities Gear Up Towards Environmental Health Care
by Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA)
March 19th, 2009
Following clamor for environmentally responsible health care, 15 hospitals, four medical universities, a local environment and natural resources office and a national medical association all pledged to support environmental health campaigns in hospitals and health care system in the country.
Philippines: DOH-7 to conduct training on waste management
Philippines Information Agency's Daily News Reader
February 11th, 2009
To promote public health and welfare for the environment, the Department of Health in region 7 (DOH-7) in coordination with the DENR-7-Environment Management Bureau will conduct a training on Health Care Waste Management to the public and private hospitals.
Philippines: Advocates raise alarm on atmospheric mercury emissions
withnews
February 5th, 2009
Environment and health advocates sounded the alarm on the dangers of mercury to coincide with the international release of a study that shows the harmful effects of burning mercury-added products on February 5. The new study reveals that 200 tons of mercury is released yearly from burning products.
Philippine Administrative Order No. 21: Phase-out of Mercury in Healthcare
by Philippine Department of Health
July 30th, 2008
This administrative order from the Philippine Department of Health requires the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine healthcare facilities and institutions.