Integration of occupational health measures into the health system

Abstract

Workers in general constitute one of the most important parts of the community and, their health is therefore, an essential element in social and economic development. Much is being done throughout the world to protect workers against accidents at work and occupational diseases, but very little is being done to study the effects of work on non-occupational diseases. This situation is specially serious regarding workers of medium and small undertakings and agricultural workers, who, specially in developing countries, have no access whatsoever to occupational health centers and who usually are attended to by their countries' general health system. This situation led the World Health Organization to propose that all countries should develop special programs for this sector of the community, to be put into effect by their general health systems. Examples of pilot-plans of this type of medical care in some developing countries and in Brazil are presented and it is strongly recommended that Brazil adopt such a strategy as proposed by the World Health Organization to protect workers' health.