[Evaluation of occupational medicine service tasks in the context of the Occupational Medicine Service Act, article 12, on the basis of statistical indicators in the Pomorskie voivodship]

Abstract

Background: Occupational health service is based on legal regulations. We have made an attempt to estimate the implementation of the tasks resulting from article 12 of the Occupational Medicine Service Act introduced in 1998.

Materials and methods: In this paper we analyzed statistical data concerning the number of prophylactic health contracts, economic entities and health insurance payers. The data come from the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Central Statistical Office and Social Insurance Institution.

Results: Contract Coverage Rate (CCR) has been introduced for the purpose of this research. The data show that in 2007, the Contract Coverage Rate (CCR) for the Pomorskie voivodeship (province) accounted for 45.7%, with the median value of 14.4% for all voivodeships in Poland.

Conclusions: According to the gathered statistical data, it should be concluded that the implementation of article 12 is insufficient. The amendment to the Act introducing the provision on written contracts is an opportunity to provide an effective mechanism, by which the present situation can be improved and the rates raised to a satisfactory level.