[Preventive medicine activities of Suva]

The Swiss National Accidents Insurance Fund (Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt, Suva) not only has to pay in case of injuries (of both occupational and nonoccupational nature) and occupational disease, an essential duty given by law (Kranken- und Unfallversicherungsgesetz, KUVG) is the prevention of work accidents and occupational disease. The Suva department for Prevention of Accidents (Abteilung Unfallverhütung) is responsible for technical measures; the occupational physicians of the Suva Medicine department (Medizinische Abteilung) are carrying for the medical prevention of occupational diseases which is the item here explained in detail. In 1977, the medical prevention was extended ot a total of 236,000 insured workers. (Of the almost 2.7 million workers and employees 1.7 million are insured by the Suva.) The legal basis, the kind of prevention done and its organization are described.