Mittaphab Hospital opens nation’s first occupational health centre

The nation’s first occupational and health check centre opened at Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane last week aiming to prevent work-related injuries and illness.
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, Director of the Healthcare and Rehabilitation Department under the Ministry of Health, Assoc. Prof Dr Bounnack Saysanasongkham, along with senior ministry officials and other guests attended the centre’s opening last Friday.

The centre has been established under a decree on occupational safety, which is currently being drafted.
The decree aims to strengthen workplace health inspections and build collaboration between the ministries and institutions responsible.
Director General of the Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Phongsaysack Inthalath, said all workers in Laos including foreigners would benefit from the new facility.
“The centre will be used to carry out health checks on workers to prevent work-related injuries and disease. It will play an important role in improving occupational health and safety,” he said.
The centre will monitor the health status of workers at periodic intervals when the job involves exposure to potential health hazards, certify that workers can return to work after a prolonged absence for health reasons, and establish the conditions under which employees with illnesses, injuries or disabilities can continue working.
Workers who have been exposed to occupational hazards such as toxins or other substances may receive medical examinations to manage lasting health effects.
Periodic health examinations of employees can reveal the existence of health hazards in the workplace and allow the employer to make changes to improve worker health and safety
Employee health screenings can also identify pre-existing conditions which make an employee more susceptible to the effects of hazardous substances or other risks on the job.
According to the Ministry of Health, occupational disease prevention is part of proper supply chain management and enables companies to design and ensure social compliance schemes as well as monitor their implementation to identify and prevent occupational disease hazards.   

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update April 30, 2019)