(1) The Department of Health undertakes annual assessments of health care professionals against possible infections, generally, through occupational health units located within health facilities. Recently, the Department has decided to put together an additional policy, to look at TB specifically. While the policy is still being developed, with reviews being undertaken by all relevant stakeholders including associations of health professional workers and legal units, it has already been determined that medical checks for TB will be undertaken more frequently. The policy will be implemented once it has been approved by the National Health Council (NHC);
(2) The Department of Health provides N95 masks to all health care professionals and surgical masks for the use of patients. These are however used more consistently in high risk (for infection) areas of health facilities. These masks are provided on the basis of a tender that has been awarded to a service provider, following negotiations for lowering of the masks' prices
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