§ Title: Provision of Occupational Health Services in Abu Dhabi Entity: Capital Health Screening Centre, A Mubadala Company Speaker: Dr. Omer El Nagieb, MD MSc FFOM Consultant in Occupational Medicine

Agenda Gaps in Occupational Health services provision: – Scope of services – Availability of resources – Access to education and training Increased interest in Occupational Health: – Stakeholders drive – Business opportunities

Scope of Occupational Health Services The term Occupational Health services means services entrusted with essentially preventive functions and the responsibility of advising the employer, the workers and their representatives in the undertaking of: – Requirements for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment which will facilitate optimal physical and mental health in relation to work; – The adaptation of work to the capabilities of workers in the light of their state of physical and mental health “ILO Convention 161 – Article 1”

Health & Work The relationship between health and work Work Health (Occupational diseases/work related ill-health) Health Work (Medical fitness for work)

Scope of Services Health Screening Health Surveillance Risk Assessment Sickness and Absence Management Health Promotion & Wellness Programs Scope of Services

Health Screening Employment Medicals: – Pre-employment assessment – Periodic assessment Offshore medicals Driver medicals Seafarer’s medicals Part of a wellness program – Health Surveillance When there is an identifiable disease or ill health related to work – NIHL There are valid ways to detect the disease or condition The disease or condition is likely to occur under the particular working conditions Surveillance is likely to further the protection of an employee’s health

Sickness Absence Management The role of Occupational Health in sickness absence management includes: – Advice on Policy – Advice on Recording and categorization – Case management: Fitness for work Adjustments/Rehabilitation Retirement on ill health grounds – Train line managers and managers on conducting return to work interviews

Health Promotion & Wellness Programs Health Promotion/ Wellness Programs – The workplace provides a unique opportunity to positively affect the health of the workers and their families – The health issues can be work related arising from risks at work (noise induced hearing loss) or non work related attributed to lifestyle (obesity, diabetes and smoking) – Health Needs Assessment (HNA) – Designing of programmes informed by HNA – Targeted interventions

Scope of Services Emergency Planning and First Aid Provision of Special Advice Education and Training Record Keeping Quality and Audit

The Current Situation Who is doing what? – Health screening: Pre-employment One size fits all Intrusive procedures Irrelevant tests No relation to work/ hazards or risks Who is to perform Health Surveillance?

Assessment of Fitness for Work Fitness for Work

Current Capacity for OH Provision Limited number of HAAD accredited Occupational Health physicians Only one or two HAAD licensed Occupational Health nurses Though there are numerous providers of “Occupational Health” and the number is growing

Access to Education & Training Occupational Health is a subject that receives little attention during medical/nursing education There are currently no postgraduate courses in OH in any of the high education colleges/universities in the UAE For doctors: – The University of Manchester MSc course For physicians and occupational hygienists 30 students to Advanced Diploma level in 2012 Well structured didactical teaching: Core competency curriculum Monthly face/face or remote tutorials Workshops ¼ yearly exams

Access to Education & Training The Irish Faculty of Occupational Medicine: – LFOM Examination – MFOM Examination – Limited teaching – Possibility of accredited training – HAAD recognition of MFOM There are currently no postgraduate training courses/ degrees for nurses in the UAE

The Drive for OH Economic growth: – The economy of the UAE is the 2nd largest in the Arab World – A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the UAE diversify its economy Stakeholders: – OSHAD – HAAD – Oil & Gas Industry – International companies

The Way Forward Coverage and quality of Occupational Health services – Linkage to national health strategies and health sector reforms – Standards for organization and coverage – Mechanisms for resources and financing of the delivery – Sufficient and competent human resources – Home grown educational/degree and training courses for physicains and nurses – Quality assurance systems

The Way Forward: Roles & Responsibilities OSHAD: – The one and most critical step for capacity building is to mandate Health Surveillance – Approve providers of Health Surveillance HAAD: – Audit the current providers – Accredit appropriately qualified and trained physicians and nurses Private Occupational Health Providers: – Pairing with experts – Overheads/ resourcing Model of provision Expand the scope of services Experiment with acceptable local models Attract qualified Occupational Health professionals

Occupational Health Services : Basic Human Rights “Every worker has the right to working conditions which respect his or her health, safety and dignity.”

§ Thank You