Abstract
This policy brief addresses the pressing issue of improving the diagnosis and reporting of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in Türkiye. The country's significant workforce, coupled with global trends of increasing MSD prevalence, necessitates the urgent need for safer and healthier working conditions. Despite the known impact of MSDs on worker well-being, productivity, and the economy, underreporting of occupational diseases remains a challenge in Türkiye. To address these challenges, three key policy recommendations are proposed. Firstly, there should be a comprehensive plan to enhance the medical education curriculum by increasing coverage of preventive medicine, occupational diseases, and work-related MSDs. This would involve collaboration with relevant institutions and establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Secondly, a three-year campaign is suggested to raise awareness among employers, employees, and the public about work-related MSDs. The campaign should also include a national study to estimate the burden of occupational diseases, particularly focused on MSDs, and provide training programs for physicians diagnosing occupational diseases. Lastly, efforts should be made to improve the reporting and notification systems for work-related MSDs. This can be achieved through the development of an integrated pre-diagnosis reporting system, collecting and analyzing data, and establishing a committee to enhance the quality and scope of reporting.