The scope of international occupational medical practice

Abstract

The international physician has a tremendous scope of responsibility. Clinical care and its management, occupational and environmental medicine, travel medicine, marine and aviation medicine, public health and other disciplines must be addressed. Programmes must include expatriates, national citizens, travellers, families, extended families, and the surrounding communities. Moreoever, in the international context, the occupational physician is a representative of the company in the host country. Furthermore, the knowledge required is not only vast, but changes rapidly. It requires not only clinical acumen, but also the ability to effectively design and implement many types of programmes in the context of the customs and regulations of the country and with the guidance of management.