Comparison of the qualified occupational physician systems in the United Kingdom and Japan

Abstract

The British educational system of occupational medicine was compared to the Japanese system. Furthermore, a comparison was carried out between the certified occupational physician (COP) recognized by the Japan Society for Occupational Health in Japan and the Associateship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (AFOM) by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) which is a part of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. Judging from the comparison of the minimum total training period, the clinical training period, the occupational health training period, the method of examination and the success rate between COP and AFOM, it is suggested that the British system of occupational physicians may be better as a training system for occupational medicine and may regard occupational clinical training as more important than the Japanese system does. A comparison of a Diploma in Occupational Medicine (Dip Occ Med) approved by the FOM and the certification of occupational physicians by the Japan Medical Association has shown that the former has an examination but there is no test system in the latter. It should be discussed whether an examination system for the certification of occupational physicians should be introduced into the Japanese system in the near future.