Occupational Disease Prevention Law amended to prevent and treat lung reexamination

A few days ago, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress voted on the decision to amend the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Diseases, which will be implemented as of the date of adoption. In view of the public’s concern that workers are forced to “open their chests to check their lungs” when they have nowhere to seek medical treatment, the new law clearly stipulates that: “Laborers can assume the occupational disease diagnosis according to the law in the place where the employer is located, the place where he or she resides or where he or she regularly resides. The organization's occupational disease diagnosis and medical institutions that undertake the diagnosis of occupational diseases must not refuse workers' requirements for occupational diagnosis.

In addition, in order to strengthen the occupational disease diagnosis and appraisal management, the new law also stipulates that the medical and health institutions should be approved by the health administrative departments of the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the municipality. The Ministry of Health is responsible for organizing the development of occupational disease diagnosis and appraisal management methods and diagnostic standards for occupational diseases. Health administrative departments at all levels shall supervise and administer the medical and health institutions responsible for the diagnosis of occupational diseases according to law.

“We believe that these new regulations will make it easier for laborers to diagnose occupational diseases and have a positive effect on solving the major problems encountered in the diagnosis and appraisal of occupational diseases in the past.” Su Zhi, director of the supervision department of the Ministry of Health, said at a press conference later.

According to the public health department, in 2010, a total of 27,240 occupational disease cases were reported in the country. Among them, there are 23,812 cases of pneumoconiosis, an increase of 64.3% compared with 2009.

“It is estimated that there will be a significant increase and increase in the number of occupational disease cases in recent years, mainly due to the increase in law enforcement efforts to expose the invisible problems,” explained Gao Shimin, Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Supervision Department of the State Administration of Work Safety. Because occupational diseases are relatively occult, it takes a period of time from exposure to the occupational hazards to onset. The acuteness is several months, but it is more likely to be revealed in one year, several years, or even more than ten years. Because a large number of SMEs have invested less in occupational health work and have more debts in the past few years, these problems are implicit in the employing units. As law enforcement efforts increase, these problems will gradually be exposed.

For the patients of occupational diseases left over from history who cannot be included in the occupational injury insurance plan, how should they be treated? In response to questions, Teng Wei, director of the Social Law Office of the Legal Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that these patients with occupational diseases have certain characteristics and that the situation in different places is not the same. It is advisable for local governments to formulate policy measures to solve their problems. Cost and living security issues. Where conditions permit, more funds can be raised for special treatment.

“Some places in the current practice are doing the same. Therefore, apart from requiring that this group of patients with occupational diseases can apply to the government for medical treatment and living assistance, the amendments also add provisions. Local people’s governments at all levels should base on the actual conditions in the region. Take other measures to make this part of the occupational disease patients get medical treatment." Teng Wei said.