Clipping Board » Medical Harm ─ Unnecessary or inappropriate medical procedures can also cause harm.
October 12, 2012 (Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yingyu, Taipei report)
The Homemakers United Foundation today urged the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, to review the health insurance reimbursement standards for medical materials and require clear labeling of materials and whether they contain plasticizers on medical supplies.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-fen, along with the Taiwan Watch Institute, the Homemakers United Foundation, and the Citizen of the Earth Foundation, held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan this morning.
Hsieh Ho-lin, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Watch Institute, stated that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products require large amounts of plasticizers during manufacturing. During use, these products can leach di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which interferes with hormone function in the human body, affecting reproduction and development, and posing an additional burden for dialysis patients.
Lin Shu-fen said that after last year's plasticizer incident, DEHP was reclassified as a Category 1 toxic chemical substance. However, it is still widely added to toys and medical devices, particularly in medical materials, where its use is especially prevalent. Many patients undergoing treatment are at high risk of DEHP exposure.
Dr. Chiang Shou-shan, a nephrologist at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, pointed out that PVC medical supplies carry the risk of leaching plasticizers. Moreover, the Department of Health has not approved any new medical materials or drugs for kidney disease reimbursement in the past 15 years.
Dr. Chiang noted that peritoneal dialysis patients in Taiwan may not realize that although the medical supplies they use are produced by the same American manufacturer as those used by Japanese patients, Japan's higher reimbursement rates mean they receive non-PVC supplies, while Taiwan uses cheaper PVC alternatives. Similarly, dialysis abroad often employs PVC-free tubing, whereas Taiwan still uses PVC tubes.
Huang Shu-te, Executive Director of the Homemakers United Foundation, called on the Department of Health to review the health insurance reimbursement standards for medical materials and mandate clear labeling of materials and plasticizer content on medical supplies to help consumers make informed choices.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E6……8% 99% E6% BA% 96- 070213667. html;_ylt=AnVWFEY1E4TjwqvNJZOfenWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ2dXJjNnZrBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBIZWFsdGgEcGtnAzVlOTc1NzA4LThmNGYtMzkzZi05NGI3LWMzNTg2ZmRhYjg1OQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdAR2ZXIDMTU0ODkwNDgtMTQ1Yy0xMWUyLTlkZGYtMjlhZjcyNGRmMDE0;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3
Public Groups Urge Health Department to Review Medical Device Reimbursement Standards
The Homemakers United Foundation today urged the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, to review the health insurance reimbursement standards for medical materials and require clear labeling of materials and whether they contain plasticizers on medical supplies.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-fen, along with the Taiwan Watch Institute, the Homemakers United Foundation, and the Citizen of the Earth Foundation, held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan this morning.
Hsieh Ho-lin, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Watch Institute, stated that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products require large amounts of plasticizers during manufacturing. During use, these products can leach di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which interferes with hormone function in the human body, affecting reproduction and development, and posing an additional burden for dialysis patients.
Lin Shu-fen said that after last year's plasticizer incident, DEHP was reclassified as a Category 1 toxic chemical substance. However, it is still widely added to toys and medical devices, particularly in medical materials, where its use is especially prevalent. Many patients undergoing treatment are at high risk of DEHP exposure.
Dr. Chiang Shou-shan, a nephrologist at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, pointed out that PVC medical supplies carry the risk of leaching plasticizers. Moreover, the Department of Health has not approved any new medical materials or drugs for kidney disease reimbursement in the past 15 years.
Dr. Chiang noted that peritoneal dialysis patients in Taiwan may not realize that although the medical supplies they use are produced by the same American manufacturer as those used by Japanese patients, Japan's higher reimbursement rates mean they receive non-PVC supplies, while Taiwan uses cheaper PVC alternatives. Similarly, dialysis abroad often employs PVC-free tubing, whereas Taiwan still uses PVC tubes.
Huang Shu-te, Executive Director of the Homemakers United Foundation, called on the Department of Health to review the health insurance reimbursement standards for medical materials and mandate clear labeling of materials and plasticizer content on medical supplies to help consumers make informed choices.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E6……8% 99% E6% BA% 96- 070213667. html;_ylt=AnVWFEY1E4TjwqvNJZOfenWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ2dXJjNnZrBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBIZWFsdGgEcGtnAzVlOTc1NzA4LThmNGYtMzkzZi05NGI3LWMzNTg2ZmRhYjg1OQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdAR2ZXIDMTU0ODkwNDgtMTQ1Yy0xMWUyLTlkZGYtMjlhZjcyNGRmMDE0;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3