Occupational Health center: 20 years of accompanying for the health of workers

In the process of socio-economic development, workers are always the core force creating material wealth and spiritual values for the country. However, during their work, they often face many risk factors from the working environment such as dust, chemicals, noise, vibration, microorganisms, or prolonged psychological stress. If not well controlled, these factors can seriously affect health, even leading to occupational diseases – diseases specifically associated with work and working conditions.

Therefore, occupational health is not only a specialized field of medicine but also plays a key role in the sustainable human resource development strategy of each country. In Vietnam, around two decades ago, this area was not given the proper attention. However, in recent years, along with the development of the economy and the demand for higher quality human resources, occupational health has gradually been given more focus. The Occupational Health Center, under the Vietnam National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VNNIOSH), is one of the pioneering units and plays an important role in protecting the health of workers.

20 years – A journey of dedication and perseverance

Established on January 20, 2005, the Occupational Health Center (OSC) was born with the mission of caring for, protecting and enhancing the occupational health of the workforce. This is a continuation and enhancement of over 50 years of tradition in the field of occupational safety and health in Vietnam, which was laid down in the early years after the establishment of the Institute in 1971.

From the very first days of its establishment, the Center had to face numerous challenges: limited facilities and workforce, while public awareness about occupational health was still inadequate. The legal framework related to occupational health was lacking and not synchronized; the organization of health check-ups and the detection of occupational diseases at enterprises had not received due attention.

In that context, with a sense of responsibility and dedication, the team of officials from the Center has proactively brought health check-ups, consultations, and occupational health supervision to construction sites, factories, industrial zones, and remote areas across the country. This journey is not just about business trips, but also about meaningful steps, demonstrating a lasting commitment to the consistent message: “For the health of workers”.

Not only does the Center focus on providing services to every location with workers, it also focuses on in-depth investment, technological innovation, and professional capacity improvement. In 2015, the Center inaugurated and put into operation a modern occupational biochemical testing laboratory – one of the first specialized laboratories in Vietnam. In 2016, a General Clinic was established in Hanoi, expanding the scope of services. Since then, the Center has continuously achieved important international certifications such as ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 15189:2012 (VILASMED 120), demonstrating efforts to standardize and professionalize its operations.

In particular, the Center is also a pioneer in establishing international standard analysis processes and implementing comprehensive digital transformation in management and service delivery. Every step taken demonstrates the commitment to bring occupational health services in Vietnam closer to the advanced standards of the region and the world.

Professional Milestones – Outstanding Achievements

Over the course of 20 years of development, the Occupational Health Center has continuously matured and grown, gradually affirming its pioneering role in the fields of research, monitoring, diagnosis and occupational health care.

In scientific research and policies, the Center has completed more than 40 in-depth research projects in the field of occupational health, many of which have been effectively applied in practice. The Center also plays an important role in proposing the addition of 3 new occupational diseases to the list of occupational diseases covered by social insurance. Notably, the development and implementation of a process to analyze 30 modern occupational disease monitoring indicators according to international standards has laid the foundation for increasingly accurate and effective diagnosis and monitoring.

In the field of occupational health examination and care, the Center has conducted regular health checks for over 70,000 workers each year at more than 350 businesses across the country, early detecting hundreds of cases of occupational diseases, contributing to reducing risks and improving the quality of life for workers. The Center performs over 180,000 tests each year, providing expertise to many clinics within the system.

In training, communication and community activities, the Center regularly organizes training courses on first aid, occupational medicine, and occupational diseases; while also actively participating in scientific conferences and seminars both domestically and internationally. Community activities such as free health check-ups for teachers in remote areas, supporting occupational disease examinations for struggling businesses, participating in COVID-19 prevention, and disaster relief… clearly demonstrate the Center’s social responsibility.

In the field of cooperation and integration, under the direction of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and with the support of the Vietnam National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the Center has established relationships with many research institutes, hospitals, and organizations both domestically and internationally. This connection not only enhances professional capacity but also helps timely update new technologies and medical standards, contributing to building the Center’s image as a reliable, professional, and pioneering address in the field of occupational health in Vietnam.

Future orientation – Innovation and  aspiration to reach further

Two decades may not be a long journey, but the efforts and achievements made are a solid foundation for the Occupational Health Center to enter a new development phase with a broader vision and an aspiration to reach further.

In the coming time, the Center aims to strengthen comprehensive digital transformation in all activities, from internal governance, service deployment to storage and analysis of health data. At the same time, it will promote the application of artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and digital medicine in the diagnosis and prevention of occupational diseases, contributing to improving accuracy, shortening processing time, and optimizing resources.

Another important direction is to build an early warning system and monitoring occupational diseases by profession and region, helping to proactively detect and prevent health risks early. The Center also intends to expand high-quality examination services at reasonable costs, while training highly skilled personnel ready to meet international integration requirements.

With a long-term goal, the Center strives to become the leading unit in research, diagnosis, and prevention of occupational diseases in Vietnam, gradually reaching out to the region, contributing to the advanced workers health care network in Asia and the world.

Connecting for health – Stepping firmly into the future

From the early days filled with challenges to the solid position today, the Occupational Health Center has demonstrated its important role in caring for workers’ health. The achievements made over the past 20 years are a solid foundation for the Center to continue to develop even more strongly in the future.

With a dedicated team of staff, solid expertise, and a desire to contribute, the Occupational Health Center will continue to be a reliable companion for workers, contributing to the building of a safe and healthy working environment aimed at the sustainable development of the country.