[Concept: occupational medicine 2000]. / Konzept: Arbeitsmedizin 2000.

The group of physicians practising occupational medicine in Switzerland is actually still small, and it will need a very important development to reach, on a nation-wide base and not only within a few large companies, a standard of occupational medicine which satisfies from a social security as well as from an economical point of view. The occupational medicine has, therefore, to elucidate to the social partners and to the public the benefit for health and public welfare of its preventive activity at the workplace. The following goals are thus to be pursued: Further development of a legal basis in Switzerland equal to the standard of the neighbouring countries of the European Community Provision of sound models assuring occupational medical care of all business, in particular of the small and middle-sized business Promotion of student's education, specialist formation and continuative schooling in occupational medicine Provision of an adequate university teaching and research capacity with firm links to the practice A more powerful and competent representation of occupational medical aspects in actual discussions of health legislation and social legislation.

[Industrial medical activities of SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Agency)]. / Arbeitsmedizinische Tätigkeit der Suva.

The group of occupational medicine of the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (Suva) fulfills functions of standardizing, e.g. setting TLVs, of insurance medicine, i.e. judging cases of occupational disease and, to a great extent, of medical prevention. By means of 100,000 examinations per year and 40 programs, 330,000 employees in 20,000 enterprises are attended. This is not a general provision of public health, but a specific prevention of occupational diseases. The examinations of aptitude at the time of engagement and in periodical controls, help to clarify the fitness for certain dangerous occupations and to detect potential early stages of occupational diseases.

[Preventive medicine activities of Suva]. / Präventivmedizinische Tätigkeit der Suva.

The Swiss National Accidents Insurance Fund (Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt, Suva) not only has to pay in case of injuries (of both occupational and nonoccupational nature) and occupational disease, an essential duty given by law (Kranken- und Unfallversicherungsgesetz, KUVG) is the prevention of work accidents and occupational disease. The Suva department for Prevention of Accidents (Abteilung Unfallverhütung) is responsible for technical measures; the occupational physicians of the Suva Medicine department (Medizinische Abteilung) are carrying for the medical prevention of occupational diseases which is the item here explained in detail. In 1977, the medical prevention was extended ot a total of 236,000 insured workers. (Of the almost 2.7 million workers and employees 1.7 million are insured by the Suva.) The legal basis, the kind of prevention done and its organization are described.