Amendment to the Czech Specific Health Services Act

The Czech Ministry of Health recently presented a significant amendment to Act No. 373/2011 Coll. on Specific Health Services, bringing a number of changes, particularly in the area of medical assessments. The amendment responds to the need to reduce the administrative and financial burden, which should have a positive impact on employers, doctors and job applicants alike.

Changes to the assessment of job applicants’ medical fitness

One of the key changes is to the obligation for newly hired employees to undergo a pre-employment medical examination. Until now, all applicants had to undergo this examination regardless of the nature of their future work, which was an unnecessary administrative burden for employers and doctors, especially for work classified in category 1.

From now on, the obligation to carry out medical examinations will apply only to employees whose work involves a higher health risk or is governed by a special regulation. For category 1 work, which covers activities with minimal health risk, the obligation will be dropped. This does not mean that medical examinations will be abolished altogether. Employers and job applicants can still request them.

Work categorisation

Every employer has a legal obligation to provide occupational health services for its employees, including regular assessment of their medical fitness. This process is governed by several laws, including the Labour Code, the Specific Health Services Act and the Public Health Protection Act.

Work categorisation, which the employer must carry out within 30 days of the start of work, is a key tool for providing occupational health services correctly. Depending on the level of risk associated with working conditions, work is classified into four categories, each of which determines a different scope of obligations for the employer. These categories are defined on the basis of hygiene limits and risk factors such as noise, dust, vibration and physical or mental strain.

While no notification is required for classifying work into category 1, classification into higher categories must be reported to the regional public health authority, which may reassess it. This ensures that employees performing high-risk work have access to appropriate medical care and protective measures.

The services of an occupational physician are an integral part of this process and play a key role in monitoring and ensuring employees’ medical fitness, which is essential for preventing workplace injuries and occupational diseases.

Here are the individual work categories according to the level of risk and the employer’s obligations:

• Category 1 – risk-free work:

  • Characteristics: very low risk of adverse effects on employees’ health.
  • Examples: administrative work in an office.
  • Employer’s obligations: classifying work in this category does not have to be reported to any authority.

• Category 2 – work with minor risks:

  • Characteristics: adverse health effects are possible only in exceptional cases, usually in sensitive individuals.
  • Examples: handling loads (30–50 kg for men and 15–20 kg for women), work at a forced pace or in unnatural positions.
  • Employer’s obligations: the employer must report the classification of work in this category to the regional public health authority.

• Category 2 “risky” – work with risks:

  • Characteristics: although the limits for category 3 are not permanently exceeded, the public health authority considers the work potentially risky for the employee’s health.
  • Examples: any category 2 work that the regional public health authority designates as risky.
  • Employer’s obligations: classification in this category is decided by the regional public health authority on the employer’s proposal.

• Category 3 – high-risk work:

  • Characteristics: the likelihood of adverse health effects is high, and occupational diseases occur frequently.
  • Examples: welder, night porter, warehouse worker, carpenter.
  • Employer’s obligations: work in this category involves hygiene limits being permanently exceeded and the use of personal protective equipment. Classification in this category is approved by the regional public health authority.

• Category 4 – very high-risk work:

  • Characteristics: a very high risk to health, with hygiene limits permanently exceeded in a way that cannot be fully eliminated even with protective equipment.
  • Examples: work in very loud noise, in dusty environments, with high vibration, at extreme temperatures or in chemical and biological laboratories.
  • Employer’s obligations: classification in this category is approved by the regional public health authority on the employer’s proposal.

The main benefits of the amendment

This change is part of a wider government effort to reduce bureaucracy and simplify processes in occupational health services. Reducing the obligation to undergo pre-employment medical examinations in lower-risk occupations will bring:

1. A lower administrative burden – freeing up capacity for doctors, who will be able to focus more on patients who need more intensive care.
2. Time savings – faster start dates for applicants, who will not have to wait for a mandatory medical examination.
3. Lower costs – savings for employers, who will not have to pay for unnecessary examinations, which will also have a positive effect on companies’ overall finances.

Response from the professional community

According to Matyáš Fošum, director of the Ministry’s public health protection department, the amendment was the result of intensive cooperation with experts from various fields, including regional authorities and professional chambers. “The aim of these changes is not only to simplify processes, but also to create a more efficient system that reflects today’s practical needs. We believe these changes will bring improvements for employers, healthcare providers and citizens alike,” said Fošum.

The amendment to the Specific Health Services Act promises positive changes that will make medical assessments simpler and clearer. Abolishing the obligation of medical examinations for category 1 work is a significant step forward in reducing administration and bureaucracy, which should contribute in the long term to better working conditions and more efficient health services in the Czech Republic.

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