Philippine Doctors’ Prescription for Climate and Health

In 2009, The Lancet, British premier journal on health, calls climate change the biggest health threat of the 21st century. The geographic location and current economic standing of the Philippines make it among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. Every year, we witness stronger and more recurrent typhoons while the summer heat continues to intensify. With severe weather events come weather-related medical emergencies, new strains of diseases, and more medical care needed. Most recently, several health institutions have expressed alarm when the Philippine Department of Health recorded an almost doubled number of leptospirosis cases in September alone compared to the cases from January to August. This happened weeks after severe flooding in the Luzon following a monsoon rain. Leptospirosis is caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria commonly found in rats’ urine which finds their way in flood waters. While provision of medical care would seem to alleviate the problem, in the course of service delivery, the health care sector unknowingly creates significant carbon footprints. For one, as an energy-intensive sector, health care use up energy sourced from the burning of fossil fuels, the emission of which may cause or worsen local respiratory illnesses while also contributing to global climate change and its negative health impacts. Acknowledging the link between climate change and public health and the role of the health care sector in climate adaptation—providing medical care—and mitigation—moving towards greener practices— we commit to:

1. Open the discussion among health care workers on the impacts of climate change to public health and the role that every doctor and health care system must play.

2. Push for the adoption of climate change as a framework in the discussion of all health care issues. In our respective organizations, we will push that the climate change and public health framework be adopted as part of our mission and vision.

3. Promote among our network in the health care sector and our patients the impacts of climate change to public health and encourage them to bring the issue to their respective institutions.

4. Encourage our institutions to embrace climate mitigation by working towards green and healthy hospitals.

5. Work hand-in-hand with other organizations and the national government in working for a health sector that is responsive to climate change by pushing for green and renewable energy, waste management in the health care sector that does not advocate dirty, carbon intensive waste treatment technologies, and other green practices in the health care sector.

We are witness to the perils of climate change to public health.

OUR PRESCRIPTION IS TO HEAL.

Mr. Gary Cohen President/Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Ms. Merci Ferrer Director, Health Care Without Harm-Asia Benito P. Atienza, MD National Treasurer, Philippine Medical Association Maria Gina C. Nazareth, MD Board of Regents, Philippine College of Physicians Vice-President, Health Care Without Harm Carolyn N. Montano, MD President, Philippine College of Physicians Southern Luzon Chapter Shiela Marie Nicolas, MD Signatory Representative Batangas Medical Center Dennis M. Mercado, MD Medical Director Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center Jose Armand D. Gurango, MD Training Officer De La Salle University Medical Center Bernard Benjamin Albano, MD Chief Resident De La Salle University Medical Center Edgardo F. Faustino, MD Chairman, Department of Medicine Mary Mediatrix Medical Center Amelita C. Brillantes, MD Chairman, Department of Medicine University of Perpetual Help- Binan, Laguna Rhodora D. Valenzona, MD Training Officer University of Perpetual Help-Binan Jose P. Santiago, MD Governor, STAMP Ed Chua, MD President, STAMP Southern Tagalog

Mike Magabo, MD President, Southern Tagalog Rehab Medicine PARM-STARS David Salvador, MD President, Philippine Heart Association Riza Relova, MD President, Laguna Chapter Philippine College of Occupational Medicine Michael Cayetano, MD President, Batangas Chapter Philippine College of Occupational Medicine Romulo Rosales, MD President, Batangas Medical Society Liliorchid Gran-Jorvina, MD President, Bauan Medical Society Marlon De Tasa, MD President, Cavite Medical Society Karen Reyes-Kolimlim, MD President, BinanMedical Society Roy R. Gonzales, MD President, Lipa City Medical Society Marites Paulino, MD President, Mindoro Occidental Medical Society Natividad M. Cariaga, MD President, San Pablo City Medical Society Rodolfo V. Aguila, MD President, Taal-Lemery Medical Society Pedro J. Castillo, MD President, Tanauan Medical Society Tanauan City Luisito Montemar, MD President, Western Batangas Medical Society