This study assesses the implementing of the Regional Worker's Health Reference Center (Cerest Oeste) by examining the worker's occupational and health profile in Alegrete, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It also proposes strategies to enable this process and subsidize its planning. The authors carried out a retrospective study concerning the period 2000 to 2009 based on quantitative analysis of secondary data from institutional databases, and also qualitative analysis through semi-structured interviews with the key-informers involved in the Cerest implanting process. They observed that the main trouble in implementing the Center was the lack of articulation among the different administrative levels. This led to difficulties in delegating responsibilities that would fit the regional characteristics of the Center and caused infrastructure and human resource problems. To help cope with these difficulties the authors suggest a precocious selection of the staff and the involvement of social control starting in an earlier stage of the project. To subsidize the Center plan of actions it is also necessary to increase and facilitate access to worker's health epidemiological information.
health services assessment; occupational health policies; occupational health; workers health surveillance
