Connecting Health and Labour: What Role For Occupational Health In Primary Health Care
Executive Summary of the WHO Global Conference
Overview
Currently, a number of countries are reforming
their health systems based on the values and
principles of primary health care to improve
service delivery and cost-efficiency and to ensure
equity. National debates on health reforms often
touch upon the insufficient collaboration between
health and labour sectors, the organization of
preventive and curative health services for working
populations, and their relation to primary care.
The Alma Ata Declaration from 1978 called
for bringing health care as close as possible to
where people live and work. Recently, the World
Health Assembly urged countries to work towards
full coverage of all workers with prevention of
occupational and work-related diseases and
injuries (Resolution WHA 60.26 from 2007) and
for implementing vertical health programmes in the
context of integrated primary health care (Resolution
WHA 62.12 from 2009).
The Hague Conference was part of a global
process to improve coverage of and access to
occupational health services as requested by
the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007 and
contributes to the debate that many Member States
and WHO are now engaged in.