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Delhi hospitals begin mercury phase out
New Delhi, 17/09/2004
By Priti Mahesh
A meeting was held with five big private hospitals
regarding follow-up action after the release of Toxics Link's report ‘Lurking
menace: Mercury in the healthcare sector’. This report was released
in the seminar, and these hospitals were keen to initiate some action
after they heard about the problems with mercury.
There was a brainstorming session on ways that
could be adopted in each hospital for raising awareness of the staff about
mercury and ultimately finding ways of eliminating it. There was a very
encouraging response on the issue from all the hospital representatives
attending the meeting. Dr Vijay Agarwal, from Max Healthcare, decided
to start the mercury awareness campaign soon in the group's various branches.
Following Toxics Link’s report ‘Lurking
menace: Mercury in the healthcare sector’ released in June 2004,
some big hospitals in Delhi have decided to get rid of the toxic mercury.
The Toxics Link’s report revealed the serious
threat posed by mercury which is present in equipments like sphygmomanometers
and thermometers, to healthcare workers and patients alike, on account
of faulty handling and disposal of the highly toxic metal during routine
equipment breakages.
Max Healthcare, one of the country’s
premier healthcare chains has decided to replace mercury-based thermometers
and blood pressure monitors in all its hospitals, with alternate equipments.
The new Max Heart and Vascular Institute at Saket will be its first ‘mercury-free’
hospital.
Elaborating on the move, Dr Vijay Agarwal, Chief Administrator
of Max Healthcare Services said, “ We have been aware of the risks
associated with mercury-based instruments for some time, but the Toxics
Link Report and follow up seminars helped us realise the seriousness of
the situation. Max is committed to providing the best healthcare environment
to both patients and its staff and this is a clear step in this direction.”
St. Stephens hospital, one of the
leading hospitals in Delhi, is already using digital thermometers for
last two years. They have plans to completely eliminate mercury from the
institution by 2005. Commenting on this, Dr Sudhir Joseph, Deputy director
said, “We have taken a conscious decision to eliminate mercury usage
wherever possible and hope other medical institutions will follow our
example. It is only by collective effort that we will be successful in
eliminating Mercury as an environmental menace.”
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, one of the
other leading health institutions in Delhi, has decided to make the hospital
mercury free zone. Dr. Nalini Kaul, Medical Superintendent said “We
have also decided to hold mercury awareness campaigns for their staff
in the interim period”. Another big hospital in the city,
Holy Family has already started looking at its purchase policy
regarding mercury- containing equipments. They also plan to organize mercury
awareness sessions for its hospital staff very soon. Father A. Pinto,
Director of the hospital feels “While the awareness is there, so
too risk to the patients and the staff. The faster Mercury is phased out,
the better for all of us in the city of Delhi.” Batra Hospital
has also started training their staff on hazards of mercury.
Mercury, which is used widely in the health-care sector
in thermometers, sphygmomanometers, dental amalgams, laboratory reagents,
etc, is a very potent neuro- and nephro-toxic substance. Mercury equipment
breaks very often. The hospital staff is ill trained and equipped to deal
with any such spillage. Mercury is usually handled without any protective
gear and is disposed off either with incinerable waste, general waste
or in the drains, all of which would lead to mercury’s entry in
the food chain. According to US Environment Protection Agency, medical
waste incinerators are the fourth-largest source of mercury emissions.
Several other Delhi based hospitals are expected to
follow the lead taken by St. Stephens and Max Healthcare in phasing out
mercury-based equipment. Commenting on this, Toxics Links Director Ravi
Agarwal said, “ We are greatly encouraged by the initiative shown
by these hospitals after the publication of our report. Mercury related
hazards are very serious and require immediate attention. We are sure
that all public-minded institutions in the sector will take similar steps
very soon.”
For more information, contact:
Priti Mahesh, Toxics Link, H2 Jungpura Extension, New
Delhi 110 014;
T: +91-(0)11-24328006, 24320711; F: +91-(0)11-24321747;
E: priti@toxicslink.org; I:
www.toxicslink.org
Dr. Vijay Agarwal, Max Healthcare Services-98187 66000
Dr Sudhir Joseph, St. Stephens Hsopital- 98101 00323
Dr. Nalini Kaul, Sir Gangaram Hospital- 25747891
Father A. Pinto, Holy Family Hospital- 98101 73948
Toxics Link is an environmental NGO, dedicated to bringing
toxics related information into the public domain, both relating to struggles
and problems at the grassroots as well as global information to the local
levels. We work with other groups around the country as well as internationally
in an understanding that this will help bring the experience of the ground
to the fore, and lead to a more meaningful articulation of issues. Toxics
Link also engages in on-the-ground work, especially in areas of municipal,
hazardous and medical waste management, and food safety, among others.
Working in networks, utilising community outreach and education, policy
analysis, research, training and program development, we work at the state
and central levels to help create solutions, which are driven by the needs
of people. We are also involved in a wider range of environmental issues
in Delhi and outside as part of a coalition of non-governmental organisations.
Documents related to this story 
• Lurking menace: Mercury in the healthcare sector
By Anu Agrawal, Priti Mahesh, Ratna Singh;
Published by Toxics Link;
30/06/2004
The unregulated use of mercury in the healthcare sector and a lack of awareness about its toxic hazards are threatening the well-being of the environment and communities.
Download electronic copy
06041_Mercury_in_healthcare_Report_Summary.pdf
06041_Mercury_in_healthcare_Report.pdf
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