Background
China is facing enormous challenges of occupational disease prevention and control and high incidences of occupational diseases. Occupational disease diagnosis is an important part of occupational disease prevention and control. However, the current situation of occupational disease diagnosis service system in China is not optimistic. Relevant national laws, regulations, policies, and plans require to improve the current technical support system of occupational disease diagnosis and treatment, and to establish a sound occupational disease diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation network on the foundation of existing medical and health institutions.
Objective
To analyze the development status and existing problems of occupational disease diagnosis institutions in China, and propose countermeasures and suggestions.
Methods
All occupational disease diagnosis institutions in China were surveyed by questionnaire using comprehensive census. The Occupational Health Center of the National Health Commission organized the preparation of the questionnaire and the participation of all relevant institutions in the survey. All data collected in the survey were for the year 2020 and available as of December 31, 2020. The questionnaire covered the overall situation, service provided, staffing of certified physicians for providing occupational disease diagnosis, and instruments in selected categories of occupational disease diagnosis institutions.
Results
As of December 2020, there were 587 occupational disease diagnosis institutions in China; the highest average number of enterprises served by an occupational disease diagnosis institution was 39000, and that of employees served by an occupational disease diagnosis institution was 2.15 million in Chongqing. There were a total of 5809 physicians certified to diagnose occupational diseases in China, with 20.4 doctors per specified occupational disease prevention and treatment hospital, 9.5 doctors per general hospital, and 8.3 doctors per disease control and prevention center. Only 87.7% of the institutions were equipped with digital radiography (DR), 58.1% with computed tomography (CT), and 96.4% with pulmonary function meters; the equipment rate of computed radiography (CR) was only 6.5%, and that of CT was only 14.6% in all-level disease control and prevention centers; 45 disease control and prevention centers were not equipped with any common x-ray machine, CR, DR, or CT.
Conclusion
In the face of the still serious situation of prevention and treatment of occupational diseases, the overall distribution of institutions is uneven around China, the number of institutions in some regions is relatively insufficient, and the comprehensive capacity of centers for disease control and prevention at all levels needs to be improved. Strengthening comprehensive capacity building of occupational disease diagnosis institutions and training of relevant physicians would be helpful to ensure the accuracy and scientificity of diagnosis. At the national level, further increasing policy guidance and financial input would help occupational disease diagnosis institutions upgrade their techniques and service capacity, and protect workers' occupational health rights.
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