Sri Lanka Ministry of Health has decided to remove all mercury-containing equipment from use in hospitals to minimize the environmental exposure to mercury in accordance with the global guidelines.
The mercury-containing equipment in hospitals including old thermometers and blood pressure measuring devices (sphygmomanometers) will be replaced by new digital equipment, the Director of Environment and Occupational Health Unit, Dr. Hemantha Herath said.
Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka has issued a circular instructing all Provincial Health Directors, Regional Health Directors, Hospital Directors and Medical Health Officers to gradually remove the mercury-containing equipment from use.
The Ministry has instructed the officials to purchase digital equipment in future to replace the mercury contained equipment.
The Ministry has also instructed the officials to use T-8 CFL bulbs to minimize the mercury waste.