Experts Advocate Phasing Out Mercury-Based Medical Devices

Quick Summary

• Public health experts, environmental advocates, government officials, and civil society members gathered in Guwahati to discuss phasing out mercury-containing medical devices in India.
• The workshop was organized by Consumer Voice and Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam (CLPFA), in collaboration with the North Eastern Regional Institute of Management.
• Discussions emphasized india’s commitment to the minamata Convention on Mercury aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury exposure.
• Gautam Krishna Mishra of Assam Pollution Control Board stressed training healthcare facilities on mercury spill management and adopting safer alternatives.
• Mousumi Krishnatreya from Nagaon Medical College highlighted that eight tonnes of mercury are released annually in India due to improper disposal of medical devices like thermometers and sphygmomanometers. Mercury exposure is especially harmful to women during pregnancy or lactation, posing risks to future generations.
• Experts advocated for switching to non-mercury (digital/aneroid) equipments as a safer option while emphasizing safe disposal practices for broken products.
• Ajoy Hazarika from CLPFA emphasized consumer awareness as critical for reducing healthcare’s environmental impact.
• Nilanjana Bose from Consumer Voice asserted that digital devices are accurate and affordable, encouraging broader adoption among consumers.

Indian Opinion Analysis
India’s ongoing efforts toward eliminating mercury-based medical devices reflect growing commitment both at domestic levels and under international agreements like the Minamata Convention on Mercury. the discussions during this workshop underline significant steps toward prioritizing public health alongside environmental preservation-a necessary balance given India’s large population size coupled with existing challenges in waste management systems.

The reported figure-eight tonnes of annual mercury release-underscores staggering implications not only for immediate human health but also ecological sustainability if mismanagement persists unchecked. Transitioning towards digital alternatives could bolster accuracy while dramatically reducing toxic risks; however, widespread consumer education will remain pivotal in achieving sustainable adoption among households nationwide alongside institutional adherence across healthcare providers.

This debate highlights how concerted efforts by civil society organizations combined with regulatory participation are vital pillars for expediting policy shifts into practical outcomes beneficial both generationally & ecologically need consistency via frameworks implementation standards tighter scrutiny transitional Aging factory pathways gaps remain narrower designate avenues enforced environmental citizen measured fairly cooperative growth stakeholders economy driven.

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