Polish approach to the quality assurance system in occupational health services

The most important factors which influence the quality of Occupational Health Services in Poland are discussed. The legal regulations, the system of specialist education, guidelines and standards in occupational medicine, and the role of regional specialists supervision system are presented. The audit of medical documentation revealed the 'sub-populations' of doctors who are concerned about the quality and those who are not. Keeping relatively moderate prices of services by some OHS units, even at the cost of their quality, has become a side-effect of competition. The establishment of an accreditation system in OHS is postulated, basing on the existing elements of such a system.