Prof Victor Hoe and Dr Lim Yin Cheng from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya recently attended the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health 2024 (ICOH 2024) which was held in Marrakesh (Morocco). The theme for this year’s Congress, “Enhancing Occupational Health Research and Practices: Closing the Gaps!”, underscores the importance of proactive measures in ensuring the wellbeing of workers and the sustainability of businesses.
The congress was organised by the International Commission for Occupational Health (ICOH) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. ICOH is an international non-governmental professional society, founded in 1906 in Milan as the Permanent Commission on Occupational Health. Today, ICOH is the world’s leading international scientific society in the field of occupational health with a membership of more than 2,000 professionals from over 110 countries.
There were over 1300 participants attended the congress. The congress included 1 keynote, 42 plenary and semi-plenary sessions, 75 special and 75 free paper session (with more than 300 oral presentations), 12 E-poster sessions (900 e-poster presentations) and 100 symposia, workshop, and business meetings. In total, the educational content amounted to over 350 hours of educational content during the five- and-a-half-day congress.
Prof Victor Hoe presented a poster on “Safeguarding Healthcare Workers’ Well-Being During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons and Strategies from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)”. UMMC’s prompt and effective response underscored the significance of a capable, committed, and agile management team, an experienced Counselling and Psychological Management Unit, a well-established Occupational and Public Health Service, and personnel equipped with a strong background in occupational and public health. Prof Victor Hoe was supported by grant from the 34th ICOH, Universiti Malaya and the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia (AOEMM).
Dr Lim delivered an oral presentation on “Effect of Cardiovascular Disease Towards Work Productivity and Monetary Loss among School Teachers in Peninsular Malaysia: A Nested Case-Control Study” and a poster presentation on “Respirator Fit Test Representing Population of Malaysia”. Dr Lim also participated and won the ICOH-ILO Master Fellowship competition. Dr Lim was supported by grant from the Universiti Malaya.
At this year’s congress, the AOEMM also setup a booth to promote the 24th edition of the Asian Congress on Occupational Health (ACOH) in 2026. This triennial congress is part of the activity of an Asian Association for Occupational and Environmental Health (AAOEH). The theme of the conference is “Navigating Global Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Occupational Health: Shaping the Future for Sustainability”. It will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from 5-8 August 2026.
The congress provided an opportunity for networking with old friends and acquittances and developing new linkages. It is the biggest occupational health programme and attracts occupational safety and health professionals from around the World.
We would recommend that anyone interested in occupational health should attend the upcoming congress in Mumbai, India (14-19 February 2027). As a member of ICOH, individuals will enjoy a substantial reduction of the registration fee of the triennial ICOH and other ICOH-sponsored conferences. In addition to the Congress, individuals can choose to join up to three scientific committees and attend the subcommittee webinars for free.
The information is available at the following link: https://www.icohweb.org/site/members-info.asp
Article written by Lim Yin Cheng and Victor Hoe
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