It was in 1966, when a group of company physicians organized themselves to form the Industrial Medical Association of the Philippines (IMAP). The membership grew with more than 300 physicians joining the group in the early‘70s.
Then in 1976, Dr. Gregorio Dizon, “The Father of Occupational Health of the Philippines”, initiated the merging of the three occupational health associations to form the “Philippine Occupational and Industrial Medical Association (POIMA), with Dr. Benito R. Reverente, Jr. as the founding president. These three associations that merged were:
- The Industrial Medical Association of the Philippines (IMAP).
- The Philippine Association of Occupational Health (PAOH).
- The Philippine Association of Compensation Medicine (PACOM).
POIMA’s 350 physicians members formed the provincial chapters of Baguio-Benguet, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Laguna, Southern Mindanao and Northern Mindanao. To achieve its objectives, national conferences on occupational health were held annually, in addition to the quarterly scientific meetings of all the chapters.
In 1982, the Specialty Board of Occupational Medicine was formed and 60 physicians were conferred the Diplomate status.
Along with the thrust to better align its organizational identity to its objectives and activities, the name of the association was changed to Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM), in 1989.
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 (AAOH).
At present, the organization has 17 chapters namely: Baguio-Benguet, Batangas, Bicol, Cebu, Cavite, Iloilo-Panay, Laguna, Makati, Metro Manila, Negros Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Quezon City, Rizal, Socksargen and Southern Mindanao.
PCOM has remained the prime mover in the preservation, promotion, protection, and enhancement of the health, wellness, and safety of workers in all occupations thru its 2,815 members working throughout the country.
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