MINISTRY OF HEALTH MONGOLIA

MERCURY FREE HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES IN MONGOLIA

B.TSETSEGSAIKHAN (Ph.D.) 2011.03.15 MANILA, PHILIPPINES

1. Structural changes
National Poison Information Center was established in Public Health Institute in 2009 (staff 4 person) an (10 person from 2011) Procurement of portable measurement devices for measuring Hg in air, biological samples Capacity building of the staff in Japan, Russia, Thailand National assessments of mercury health impact based on the Global mercury assessment

2. Baseline survey for mercury containing devices in health care facilities of Mongolia - 2010
578 departments of 38 government and private health care facilities 38% of mercury containing devices were thermometers and 24% sphygmomanometers Utilization period: 1-3 years 75% of HCF hadnt any regulation for safe handling, storage and disposal of Hg containing devices

Baseline survey for mercury containing devices in health care facilities of Mongolia - 2010
Knowledge on health impact of the mercury spillage from broken devices was not enough among medical workers Safety manuals for handling, storage and disposal of Hg containing devices, promotional materials was not available

Baseline survey for mercury containing devices in health care facilities of Mongolia - 2010
Mercury containing dental amalgam usage: 15 % of dental hospitals have been using dental amalgam which is usually imported from Russia, China Absence of any special recommendation and rules for safe usage, storage of dental amalgam

3. Legal aspects
The Joint Order #07/27 of the Minister of Health and Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency from 11 January, 2011 to prohibit purchase of the mercury containing thermometer and sphygmomanometer and dental amalgam starting from 15 Jan, 2011 and take all measures to reduce the usage of the previously obtained ones safety rules for mercury containing devices mercury spill guideline

National Health care waste management strategy

Approved in 2009 Supporting non burning technology Establishment of centralized treatment facility in 3 big cities Procurement of non incinerating equipments, such as autoclaves for appr. 120 provincial hospitals this year

4. Training, promotion
The training of all medical officers in charge of waste management Preparation of the IEC materials and DVD movie for mercury spillage

Challenging issues
Information about the safe alternatives of the mercury containing devices Availability on the market Storage of mercury waste at the HCF Final disposal of hazardous waste