Health, Environment and Social Management in Enterprises programme in the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

Background: Macedonia is the first country in the region to launch implementation of the WHO Health, Environment and Social Management in Enterprises (HESME) Programme, following the WHO Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health held in London in 1999.

Objectives and methods: The aim of this paper is to describe the efforts made to implement this programme. Methods are based on integrated management with joint involvement of crucial partners at all levels of activities suggested by the WHO.

Results: Commitment to inter-sectorial and interagency collaboration at national level, adoption of a final version of a National HESME Plan, with basic principles, criteria and concrete activities, establishment of a National coordination center for the HESME Project, development of training curricula and specific educational tools for occupational health personnel, preparation of questionnaires and procedures for a national survey to detect high occupational risks, specific occupational hazards and health promotion needs of the working population, and finally setting up quantitative and qualitative indicators for national or provincial workplace health profiles.

Conclusions: Building up the concept of cooperation, partnership and common work in HESME activities is a challenge for the new public health view in Europe.