title: [Market oriented occupational medicine].
abstract: The history and the recent state of occupational medicine in Hungary, and its relation with governmental labor organizations are analyzed. In the past 20 years, large "socialist" factories were replaced by smaller companies employing fewer workers. They have been forced to establish contract with occupational health providers. Many of them offer primary care services, whereas family physicians having a board examination in occupational medicine are allowed to work in this field as well. The market of occupational medicine is less regulated, and ethical rules are not always considered. Undercutting prices is a common practice. The recent system could be improved by some regulations which should be respected. There is no reason to make rough changes establishing a new market for profit oriented insurance companies, and to allow employees and employers to work without specification neglecting international agreements. Occupational medicine should be supervised again by the health authorities instead of economists who have quite different, short-term priorities.
authors.affiliation: Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Népegészségügyi Kar Családorvosi és Foglalkozás-egészségügyi Tanszék Debrecen Móricz Zs. krt. 22. 4032. Rurik.Imre@sph.unideb.hu
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rurik
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cseh
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007343:Insurance Carriers / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends