Worker's Compensation Injury and Illness Care: A Global Round Table.

BACKGROUND: Work-related injuries and diseases have a significant impact on workers and their families, society, and the economy. There is a gap in the literature regarding the structures, content, quality, and outcomes of international occupational health systems serving injured and ill workers. This global round table was an attempt to elucidate, evaluate, and identify areas needing improvement. METHODS: International occupational health professionals were identified via chain/snowball sampling and asked to answer five questions designed to evaluate the structures, processes, and outcomes of the workers' compensation systems in each country. FINDINGS: Areas for improvement identified during this round table included timely access, reducing the impact of liability and eligibility determinations on access to medical care, equitable access to care, and the accuracy of reporting. Canada had successfully utilized a virtual approach to care for the geographically remote worker. CONCLUSIONS: International workers' compensation structures are designed to ensure timely access to quality care and services. Financial incentives optimize the safety of the working environment. There remain areas for improvement. Resources are limited, especially within the public health systems, which may delay care and affect quality. Informal and remote workers often do not have the same access to care. Occupational Health Services (OHS) and national reporting databases exist throughout the world but may not accurately capture data on informal, self-employed, small business, migrant, and remote workers.

The prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among Filipino blood donors and overseas work visa applicants.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among the general population of the Philippines using data sources outside of the limited existing active surveillance network. METHODS: We analysed aggregate HIV, HBV and HCV test results for hospital-based blood donors (BDs) and overseas Filipino worker candidates (OFWCs) that had been reported from licensed laboratories to the National STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory in Manila between 2002 and 2004. FINDINGS: From over 144 000 blood-screening results, the HIV prevalence was 0.006% in BDs and 0.001% in OFWCs; that of HBV was 4.2% in both groups; and that of HCV was 0.3% in BDs and 0.9% in OFWCs. Males were at increased risk of both HBV and HCV; among OFWCs, younger women were at increased risk. Laboratories that tested sequentially but stopped testing after the first positive result were far less likely to detect HCV, indicating that sequential testing protocols may underestimate HCV and HIV prevalence. OFWCs were at low risk of HIV, and the risk of testing positive for these viruses was not increased among OFWCs applying for a repeated work visa, compared with first time-applicants. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, we conclude that HIV is rare in the Philippines. In contrast with prior reports, we found no evidence that OFWCs constitute a high-risk group for HIV. Further research is needed to understand why younger women are at increased risk of acquiring HBV.