Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

Article 10 of the Convention. Professional independence. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government which indicates that providers of occupational health care are independent from employers and that currently the care provided is almost entirely based on a contractual relationship between the employer and the occupational health-care provider. The Committee notes the comments by the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS), included in the Government’s report, which state that there are health-care institutions which still use their own employees (doctors) for occupational health purposes and their independence is thus compromised. The Committee notes the Government’s response thereto, which indicates that the comments by CMKOS were discussed at the tripartite Working Group for the Cooperation with the ILO of the Council of Economic and Social Agreement on 18 October 2010, and it was agreed that a special sitting of the Working Group (with the expert participation from the side of the Government, as well as of the social partners) will be dedicated, in the near future, to the issue of occupational health services, as well as the White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the personnel providing occupational health services enjoy full professional independence from employers, workers, and their representatives, where they exist, in relation to the functions listed in Article 5, with reference to the comments by CMKOS; and to provide further information on the outcome of the abovementioned tripartite working group.

Article 11. Qualifications required for personnel providing occupational health services. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government, which indicates that, in addition to occupational health-care specialists, occupational health-care services are also provided by general practitioners. The Government indicates that the Institute of Health Care Post-Graduate Education organizes training for general practitioners targeted at occupational health-care issues through courses covering 150 hours of lectures. The course is concluded by examinations and tests, after the passing of which the graduate receives a certificate. CMKOS admits that although new legislation has introduced specific provisions for education of medical doctors and nurses specializing in occupational health, these services are, in practice, usually carried out by general practitioners, and that the reform of the national health legislation has not been realized yet. The Committee notes the response above by the Government to the comments by CMKOS. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the qualifications required for the personnel providing occupational health services, with reference to the comments by CMKOS; and to indicate whether general practitioners, who undertake a role in occupational health care, do not do so until they are certified in such duties.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.