The Philippine College of occupational Medicine, Inc. (PCOM) opened Friday its 32nd Annual National Convention with the theme “New Trends and New Solutions: Working towards Continuous Improvement of Occupational Health Practice” at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

The two-day gathering of experts will feature plenary sessions that will tackle topics such as barriers to quality occupation health practice, providing solutions to current occupational health concerns, enhancing policy infrastructure in occupational health systems, mitigating risks in occupational health practice, ensuring better access to occupational health services, and stepping up the profession in occupational health and medicine.

In 1966, a group of company physicians organized themselves to form the Industrial Medical Association of the Philippines whose membership grew to over 300 in the early ‘70s. In 1976, Dr. Gregorio C. Dizon, now known as “The Father of Occupational Health of the Philippines,” initiated the merging of three occupational health association of physicians to form the Philippine Occupational and Industrial Medical Association (POIMA), with Dr. Benito R. Reverente Jr. as the founding President.

POIMA’s 350 members formed the provincial chapters of Baguio-Benguet, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Laguna, Southern Mindanao, and Northern Mindanao. Quarterly scientific meetings of the chapters and national conferences on occupational health were held annually.

In 1982, the Specialty Board of Occupational Medicine was formed and 60 physicians were conferred diplomate status. And in 1989, to better align its organizational identity to its objectives and activities, POIMA was renamed PCOM. Since then, PCOM has become an active partner of the Philippine Medical Association, as its affiliate association in Occupational Medicine, with the vision to improve the health and working conditions of workers. PCOM is also affiliated with the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and the Asian Association of Occupational Health.

Today, PCOM has 17 chapters nationwide and has remained the prime mover in the preservation, promotion, protection, and enhancement of the health, wellness, and safety of workers in all occupations through its 2,815 members working throughout the country.

We congratulate the Officers and Members of the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine led by their President Dr. Rustico A. Jimenez. FPCOM on the occasion of their 32nd Annual National Convention and wish them success in all their endeavors.