scope:

Purpose

The aim of this agreement is to articulate the policy for the surveillance of the health of NATO Service members including: identification of the population at risk; assessing the health of this population through pre-, during and post-deployment health assessments; identifying potential health hazards; assessing these hazards; advising commanders of health control options; implementing commander selected controls; communicating hazard(s) and control(s) efforts to affected personnel, monitoring effectiveness of controls and managing health surveillance data.

This document primarily focuses on the identification, assessment, and documentation of acute health hazards and associated risks. While delayed (post deployment) long-term health effects can be a concern, the extent and process for addressing such risks is left to the ratifying nations.

All health surveillance data summaries, final reports and investigations prepared in accordance with the requirements of STANAG 2535, Pre and Post-Deployment Surveillance, shall be forwarded from the deployed task force medical advisor (or national higher headquarters) office through the chain of command to a central analysis and repository centre (as determined by NATO and the individual nation). Deployment health surveillance documents should be provided through the chain of command, to the troop contributing nations and the Allied Command Operations Medical Advisor's staff using a standardized reporting application. The information should be subsequently analyzed and feedback provided to appropriate command staffs. Any medically relevant, actual or presumptive environmental and occupational exposures will be documented in individual medical records and/or data repositories in accordance with national policies. Appropriate medical follow-up to address occupational and environmental health concerns will be a national responsibility.