SS40 BOTTLENECKS AND SOLUTIONS IN STARTING AND PROGRESSING BASIC OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES (BOHS)

Abstract

Universal Occupational Health Coverage is a key element in reducing social inequality, promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction. Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) and similar innovations, part of primary or community healthcare, can support the largest part of all workers having no access to expert-based occupational health services. The session seeks to learn from existing practices in seven countries, varying from successful implemented new forms of occupational healthcare, basic occupational healthcare in early stages of development, and experiments while struggling on how to start. Accents can be different: on education of primary and community healthcare, on care for informal workers or on workers and farmers in agriculture. Insights are shared in how to manage BOHS services, and in how to develop and evaluate the tasks, quality of care, effectiveness, costs, coverage, and the participatory approach. A supporting infrastructure and referral options cannot be missed. We expect to learn about challenges in the path towards BOHS focusing upon the primary healthcare approach. During the final panel discussion, we will deliberate this issue further with international organizations and the audience. The session has the objective to increase awareness about the urgent need to create new occupational healthcare solutions appropriate for the majority of all workers. Another objective is knowledge dissemination of challenges to overcome and of solutions. International information can be shared. BOHS is a new and challenging topic for development, information, education, and research. We can wait no longer.