Govt bans mercury-based medical equipment in Punjab

The Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) has ordered complete phase-out of all mercury-based medical equipment across government and private healthcare facility in the state.

The order bans the procurement and use of mercury thermometers, sphygmomanometers (BP instruments) and dental amalgam (a metal alloy used to fill cavities in teeth, created by mixing liquid mercury with a powdered mixture of metals).

The PHSC, Managing Director, directed that all medical facilities in the state must adopt mercury-free alternatives. “Mercury thermometers must be replaced with digital ones, blood pressure apparatus should be replaced with aneroid BP instruments and dentists must use non-mercury dental restoration materials,” said Faridkot Civil Surgeon Dr Chander Sekhar.

The hospitals have been told to submit a complete inventory of their mercury-based equipment to the PHSC within 30 days. To ensure safety until final disposal, all existing mercury items must be labelled as “Hazardous: Mercury waste – Do Not Handle”. Strict action would be taken against any hospital or clinic violating the directive under the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, reads the order.

This comprehensive ban aligns Punjab with India’s international obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, mentions the directive.

The state’s move also reinforces the Ministry of Health’s national guidelines for eliminating mercury devices from healthcare systems. Punjab now joins states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Delhi, which have already transitioned to mercury-free alternatives, said a senior functionary of the PHSC.

Mercury exposure, even in small amounts, can cause irreversible damage to brain, kidneys and nervous system of both children and adults. Further, spillage from broken mercury thermometers and BP instruments is a major source of contamination within hospital environments, putting healthcare workers and patients at risk, said an officer. The state has designated Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd, Nimbua, Mohali, as an authorised treatment, storage and disposal facility.