The right to health of health care workers in Latin America and Caribbean countries: Far from reaching?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to reflect on the evidence, and the lack of it, on the occupational health of health workers, compared with other sectors of activity, identifying, in the policies and regulations of 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries, the existing components of protection, compensation and prevention of occupational hazards and propose an approach focused on social epidemiology. Statistics on work injuries and diseases by sector of activity of the International Labor Organization (ILO) are analyzed; the results of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) study on the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of health personnel; evidence on mortality by suicide in health personnel, compared with the general population; data from ILO on the ratification of health protection conventions for workers and effective coverage. The implications of the right to health as applied to health workers are discussed under the approach of social epidemiology. Finally, the key dimensions to be considered for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of occupational health and safety policies focused on health-illness-health care for health workers are put forward.