- Makati City, Metro Manila

Aiming to be the 1st Green Hospital in the Philippines with solar power air conditioning and cell site, Makati Medical Center started mercury phase-out upon receipt of AO 21 in the office of Medical Director Dr. Benjamin N. Alimurung.

Dr. Alimurung immediately collaborated with the hospital’s Facility Management and Engineering Department, Purchasing Department, Hospital Waste Management Subcommittee and Total Quality Services Division to create the Mercury Management team. The team immediately discontinued distribution of mercury thermometers in the patient’s admission and discharge kits and conducted a mercury audit. After a month, the Mercury Minimization Program was in full swing.

The Basic and Advance Course on Pollution Control given ty the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also introduces the issue of mercury phase-out in the hospital

The transition was gradual-each month, the Nursing Service Officer schedules with the Purchasing department the number of mercury alternatives for requisition.

Although the issue of funding and affordability came up, Makati Medical Center believes that phasing-out mercury devices is feasible and should be a commitment of all hospitals to protect human health and the environment because of the hospital’s key role in protecting public health.

Patient safety aligned with the hospital’s mission.

“With oatient wellness in mind, we provide high quality health care thet includes elimination of hazardous materials that may cause harm to our patients when not handled properly.”