The Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases. Ten years of existence

The Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases was founded in 1991 with the intention of restoring the information system on occupational diseases, which had collapsed in 1990, following deep societal changes brought about by the revolution in 1989. During the ten years of its existence, the Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases proved to be a reliable information system providing valid data on occupational diseases. The completeness and quality of data stored in the Registry are being controlled by trained personnel. The information is available on-line for competent authorities. This makes it possible to monitor the situation regarding the incidence and the structure of occupational diseases, and to signal arising problems so that effective preventive measures can be taken immediately. Currently, the Registry contains information on approximately 30,000 cases of occupational diseases. A decreasing trend of yearly reported occupational diseases is evident. This fact must be interpreted cautiously. It may reflect the decreasing number of persons working at occupational risk and/or the improvement of hygienic situation at workplaces. However, in addition to these positive changes, the underreporting of occupational diseases in the Czech Republic is highly probable. Workers with an occupational disease feel handicapped at the labor market and seek to avoid the label. Furthermore, effectiveness of the Czech occupational health care system, which is still in the period of restructuring, is far from being perfect.