To better protect workers' rights, China has revised a regulation on occupational diseases that ensures more efficient diagnostic procedures.

The revised Regulation on Diagnosing and Authenticating Occupational Diseases, released on March 18 by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, allows employees to choose from more health institutions for identifying occupational diseases and simplifies the procedures for official confirmation of diagnoses.

Meanwhile, the regulation stipulates that employers are responsible for presenting evidence on occupational disease-related conflicts with their employees, and local industrial safety watchdogs should assist employees in urging employers to do so.

Some 779,849 cases of occupational diseases had been reported in China by the end of 2011. Last year, the country officially recognized 562 institutions to diagnose such diseases.

The revised regulation will take effect on April 10.