The City of São Paulo is the first in Brazil to eliminate the use of devices containing mercury in its public hospitals. To date thirty four public hospitals/emergency rooms and eighty five primary health care centers have been recognized for their elimination of mercury devices. This adds to the more than 100 private hospitals in Sao Paulo that have already made the switch. While there is no formal policy, the Municipality of São Paulo and its related health institutions have relied on the tireless work of one individual in the Ministry of Labor there, Dr. Cecilia Zavariz, who has spearheaded this achievement.
