Spl11 Basic Occupational Health Services - Challenges and Opportunities for Universal Occupational Health Care

Abstract Universal Health Coverage (UHC) emphasises equity, quality and protection against financial risk for utilization of health services extending the Basic Occupational Health Services’ (BOHS) conceptual framework. Global progress toward UHC has to factor the need for occupational health care among 80 percent of working populations deprived of this care. BOHS, focussing upon the primary care approach for working populations without organised or expert occupational health care, has the potential to change the landscape for efficient occupational health care systems through prioritization and pooling of scarce resources aligned with the local needs and conditions. This session will look beyond the provision of occupational health care in organised sector and discuss the access for such care among underserved working populations in informal employment, migrant and temporary workers, agricultural workers etc. A survey conducted among leading BOHS-associated experts globally underlines the challenges and facilitators to execute such a process towards Universal Occupational Health Care in a sustainable manner through a thematic construct of their experiences. Similarly, other models of occupational health care providing few elements, either through primary or private care, will be referred to augment the evidence base. There will be recommendations basis these learnings to shape the narrative for a wider discourse on BOHS-driven Universal Occupational Health Care.