Background
Most developed countries give patients with occupational diseases the right to compensation. However, studies show that many do not receive the compensation to which they are lawfully entitled. In Norway, few lung cancers (5%) and mesotheliomas (29%) were notified to the Labour Inspectorate as possibly occupationally related. According to estimated attributable fractions, 20% and 84% is expected. Through a collaboration between the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, patients with selected cancer diagnoses from 1998 receive letters informing them about the rights of compensation for occupational cancer. All men newly diagnosed with lung cancer and all mesothelioma or sino-nasal cancer cases are included. The Western Australian Parliament is presently proposing to introduce a similar scheme.
Aim
To evaluate the impact of a program to increase the number of claims for compensation for occupational cancer and investigate to what extent it reaches its target population.
Method
We collected data on intended and actual responses to the distributed information and the outcome of the filed claims during 1999-2001.
Results
Among male lung cancer and mesothelioma patients, 24% and 59% of those informed intended to file a claim. Among those who did file a claim, 81% of lung cancer patients (230/283) and 98% of mesothelioma patients (144/147) received compensation.
Conclusion
The project is successfully increasing the number of claims. The proportion of compensated cancers is still lower than the expected. For a more detailed evaluation of the process, we plan to extend the analysis to 1986-2016.