Abstract
Introduction:In the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the promotion of decent working conditions for health care workers (HCWs) in all settings. The Central Asian countries (CACs) are low- and middle-income countries with economies past transition and with implemented health care reforms that touch HCWs and occupational health and safety (OHS) at large.The aim:of the present article is to highlight some challenges in OHS regulation and to highlight some of the latest studies on biological health risks to HCWs in CACs.Materials and methods:The article reviews 18 journal articles in Russian and 3 journal articles in English published since 2004, 3 dissertations, 10 national statistical sources and profiles, and 5 books.Results:OHS management systems in CACs are built on the principle of responding to insurance cases, not their prevention. Most labor law standards are declarative in nature because many employers ignore labor protection requirements. There has been no study since 2000 on the working conditions, the physical and chemical health risks or the effects of working conditions, mental and physical loads on the health of HCWs. A few studies were found on work-related infectious diseases (viral hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosis) of HCWs in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The latest studies showed a high prevalence of viral hepatitis B, C and G and of HIV infection in HCWs in Kyrgyzstan, with much lower rates in Kazakhstan.Conclusions:The traditional OHS approach used in soviet times has proven insufficient in CACs with developing market economies. OHS and the health of HCWs in Central Asia is insufficiently studied. The available data indicate a low level of attention to the health of HCWs. Serious studies on OHS in health care settings in this region are needed.
Highlights
In the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the promotion of decent working conditions for health care workers (HCWs) in all settings
The aim of the present review is to present some challenges in regulating occupational health and safety and to highlight some of the latest studies on biological health risks to health care workers in Central Asian countries
Articles included address any aspect of the health or occupational health of HCWs working in five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Summary
In the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the promotion of decent working conditions for health care workers (HCWs) in all settings. The world faces a global shortage of 12.9 million health care workers (HCWs) in the near future. In its twenty-second policy option for all WHO member states, the World Health Assembly called on ministries of health, civil service commissions and employers to promote decent working conditions for HCWs in all settings [3]. It is important to note that effective professional activity of HCWs largely depends on their qualifications and the material and technical equipment of health care settings, and on the state of their own health and working conditions [4]
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