Question NW1732 to the Minister of Health
26 September 2016 - NW1732
James, Dr WG to ask the Minister of Health
What is the total number of doctors who are (a) needed and (b) employed at the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases to assess medical conditions of miners who need to claim compensation for injuries and illnesses contracted in the course of their work in mines and quarries?
Reply:
(a) Medical doctors are needed to provide clinical assessments of miners or ex-miners at the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD). Specialist radiologists are needed to assess the Chest X-rays. Medical doctors are also needed to serve on the Certification Committees and the Medical Reviewing Authority for Occupational Diseases. The number of medical doctors needed for the various aforementioned activities is not quantified as yet as the Compensation Commissioner is quantifying the number of current and ex-miners needing such a service as well determining a service delivery framework involving nurses trained in occupational health to do the initial clinical assessment with referral to the medical doctors as appropriate.
(b) Two (2) medical doctors are employed for conducting clinical assessments at the MBOD; 1 sessional radiologist for assessing Chest X-rays; 24 medical doctors (19 seconded from the mining companies and 5 paid by the Department of Health) for sessions in the Certification Committees and 3 occupational health specialists in the Medical Reviewing Authority for Occupational Diseases from the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH).
END.