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Health workers: Ethical aspects and dimensions Health workers’ rights and working conditions. Christiane Wiskow Independent Specialist International Public Health Global – Gerecht - Gesund International Conference, Berlin, Germany 17-18 September 2010. Why the work environment matters.
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Health workers: Ethical aspects and dimensionsHealth workers’ rights and working conditions Christiane Wiskow Independent Specialist International Public Health Global – Gerecht - Gesund International Conference, Berlin, Germany 17-18 September 2010
Why the work environment matters Competitive labour markets • Poor work environments compromise HW supply & contribute to early exits • Challenge of recruitment and retention Work environments & quality of care • Poor work environments compromise quality of care • Challenge to support effective performance
Health workers’ right to health:Occupational health protection The issues • High level of exposure to occupational risks • May lead to premature exits or reduced work ability • Many occupational diseases/accidents are preventable
Example: Infection through sharp injuries Estimated occupational infection rates annually: HBV 66’000 HW HCV 16’000 HW HIV 200-5000 HW Source: Prüss-Üstün et al, 2005
Example workplace violence: health workers most at risk % of surveyed health workers experienced workplace violence in the past 12 months (%) Source: Di Martino, 2002 (Country case studies of ILO/ICN/WHO/PSI Joint Programme on Workplace Violence in the Health sector
Example remuneration Percentage of workforce paid at or below the minimum wage, selected CEE/CIS countries ( 2001) Source: adapted from Afford, 2002
Health Workers’ right to participate and have a voice • Consultation regarding their employment and working conditions • Participation in the planning of health services • Professional autonomy Social dialogue • Positive association with improvement of work environment • Capacity building to strengthen social dialogue
Creating attractive, supportive work environment • Incentive to enter health professions - and to stay • Enabling health workers to perform effectively Goal: Quality health care services
What is an attractive & supportive work environment?Quality of work environment: dimensions and elements Source: adapted from the job quality model of Munoz de Bustillo et al, 2009
Vision: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Everyone has the right to …. Article 23. (1) work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work(…). (2) equal pay for equal work. (3) just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, (…) (4) form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. Article 24. • … rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.