P-242 A NATIONAL PROGRAM ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROTECTION FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN CHINA:ANALYSIS ON TWENTY-YEAR PROGRESS FROM TIMELINE PERSPECTIVE

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) Vol. 74; no. Supplement_1
• Main Authors: Zhang, Min, Liu, Tuo, Chen, Liang, Shi, Chunlan, Chen, Na
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 05.07.2024
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqae023.0814

Abstract Introduction Healthcare settings have been recognized worldwide as being the complex environment with multiple occupational hazards toward health workers (HW). A national program on occupational health for HWs was initiated in China in 2003, with close collaboration of WHO/ILO. The analysis focuses on the program progress based on the 20-year timeline. Methods We summarized milestone activities, reviewed evidence from studies, and used an interpretive approach to share policy advocacy and outcomes. Results (1)Activities: Leading the drafting of national standard on occupational bloodborne pathogens exposure (OBPE) among HWs (2003). implementing the national OBPE guidelines (2010). ILO/WHO HealthWISE has been applied since 2016, followed by ten HealthWISE Training-for-Trainer workshops covering 260+ hospitals across China (2015-2022). Two national professional networks were developed in NGOs (2017-2019). (2)Studies: Over ten qualitative and quantitative studies resulted in 44 articles and 5 books (2003-2023), shaping the Model of Hospital Initiative on Systematic Occupational Health (2016). (3)Policies: The program influenced policies, including the Guideline for Prevention and Control of OBPE (2009) and participation in national legislation on workplace violence, occupational health, and women’s rights (2019-2022). Discussion The national program demonstrated sustainable implementation. With over 11 million HWs in China safeguarding the population’s well-being and health system resilience, post-COVID-19, robust occupational health measures are vital in China and globally. Conclusion In the post-COVID-19 era, prioritizing robust occupational health measures for HWs is paramount in China and the world. The program’s efforts underscore the importance of protecting HWs who contribute tirelessly to society’s welfare and healthcare system function.