Provision of Basic occupational health services to health care workers

Introduction
Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of occupational diseases. However, they do not receive adequate occupational health services (BOHS). This paper described the actual situation of providing basic occupational health services to HCWs in Vietnam and some activities to improve BOHS in health care facilities

Methods
132 health care facilities (HCFs) over the country at different levels and in 9437 HCWs were investigated by questionnaires and depth interview on the situation of implementing current policies and regimes related to BOHS in HCFs

Results
The results of study showed that although majority of therapeutic HCWs worked overtime and at night (80%), only 4.5 - 4.6%,of HCWs received this allowance. Up to 89% of therapeutic HCFs working on duties in 24/24hours, 37.4-48.2% of HCFs gave less number of days off in compensation to HCWs than as stipulated in regulations or without days off due to work overload. 25.4-79.3% of HCWs had fewer days off in compensation than as stipulated in regulations, especially when working in holidays. Regard implementation of OSH policies and regimes, all HCFs provided enough basic PPEs to HCWs, such as white clothes, hats, masks and gloves. Up to 56.5% of therapeutic and 90% of preventive HCFs did not check working environment. Less than 50% HCFs organized OSH trainings and 2/3 investigated HCWs did not attend any OSH trainings. The number of HCWs who were under annual priodic health examination was very low: 18.5% of therapeutic and 9.9% of preventive HCWs.

Discussion
it should be supplemented and modified some policies and regimes to be appropriate to the current social-economic situation. All HCFs should provide BOHS to HCWs, such as working environment surveillance, development OSH profile, organizing pre-employment and periodic health examination, occupational disease detection and OSH training courses for HCWs as stipulated in legislative documents