Improving the criteria for the expertise of professional suitability as one of the conditions for conservation of professional health of medical workers

Introduction. Among medical workers, both in the Russian Federation and in foreign countries, a significant number of people with chronic diseases are identified. This problem is already noted among medical students. In such a situation, an effective system of examination of the professional fitness of medical workers is necessary. Its goal is to prevent specialists with health disorders from working in harmful and dangerous conditions, which create a real risk of progression of existing diseases.

Material and methods. The authors analyzed the regulatory acts of the Russian Federation, determining the procedure for the examination of the professional working ability of medical workers. The adequacy and possible effectiveness of these acts were evaluated on the basis of the practical experience of the occupational physician.

Results. The existing system of medical examinations of applicants of medical schools does not allow to assess the risk of deterioration of their health disorders in the process of possible future work. Periodically, there are situations when a student with a health disorder receives training in a medical specialty, the work in which will then be recognized as contraindicated. The current system of examination of professional fitness in a number of cases allows the adoption of obviously illogical decisions concerning medical workers. This is possible both with regard to the prohibition to perform hazardous work, as well as with regard to the permission to perform them.

Conclusion. Normative acts in this area need for substantial reforms. Medical examinations of enrollees and students of medical schools should be able to determine the risk deterioration of health in the event of exposure to all harmful occupational factors typical for medical workers. The increased intensity of the labor process must be included in the list of harmful occupational factors, under the influence of which expertise is necessarily carried out for th eoccupational suitability. When employing medical workers, the examination of professional fitness should be based on a risk-oriented approach.