From: Health care strategy for ensuring work ability in an aging Korea
Current status and problem | Low birth rate and aging population |
⤓ | |
Aging of the workforce | |
⤓ | |
Shortage of labor/Reduced work ability | |
<Cause 1> The high prevalence rate of chronic degenerative diseases in the elderly, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, causes an increase in the number of people with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. | |
(※ From now on, chronic degenerative diseases (e.g. cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, degenerative arthritis, and depression) will be a major occupational health issue that have a greater impact on quality of life and worker productivity than occupational diseases.) | |
< Cause 2> There is an increase in accidents due to physiological deterioration of workers such as visual/auditory function, muscle strength, and body control. | |
Counter-measure | 1. Prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease in workers. |
<Strategy> To conduct follow-up management based on risk level through assessment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases from general health examinations. | |
- Moderate- and high-risk groups: strict management of basic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. | |
- All groups: reduction of risk factors based on lifestyle, such as smoking, unhealthy dietary habits, and lack of physical activity, through workers’ health promotion programs. | |
2. Plan to improve the work ability of the elderly | |
< Strategy> Support the establishment of a work environment that is appropriate for elderly workers who have reduced physical capacity. | |
Obstacles | 1. Employers do not consider cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease prevention activities as a mandatory occupational health measure. |
2. General medical examination results are usually not accessible to employers, unlike the occupational medical examination results. | |
3. Professional personnel running health promotion programs in the workplace are often not present or are unavailable. | |
Solutions | 1. Massive publicity campaign on the significance of follow-up measures of general medical examinations and the prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases as employer obligations. |
2. National health examination data sharing between the Ministry of Health and Welfare (National Health Insurance Corporation) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency). | |
3. Establish and operate a local council and collaborate with local governments to make full use of community resources such as a public health center, health promotion center, and workers’ health center. | |
(※ Ensuring stable funding for active workplace health promotion programs/Revising the relevant laws and regulations, such as National Health Promotion Act and Framework Act on Health Examination, to make it easier to use community resources.) |