WS2-3Support for both medical treatment and work∼Perspective of an occupational health physician

Abstract There are approximately 100 thousand registered occupational health physicians certified by the Japanese Medical Association, and 31% of physicians have an occupational health qualification. Moreover, among the physicians registered, about 60% are practicing occupational medicine, and 55% of physicians who work in occupational health spend under 10% of their working hours practicing it. Furthermore, there are only 1,128 physicians whose primary work is in occupational health. In order to provide sufficient support to patients for both medical treatment and work, the number of people working in occupational health must increase, and not only some doctors, but all physician and part-time occupational health physicians have to focus on support for it. Medicine and nursing are not the only elements that need to be in place to provide support for both medical treatment and work; knowledge about psychological assessment, labor and career management, and the social security system is also invaluable. In other words, there is also a need for participation from and cooperation between people from a variety of fields in addition to medicine, such as welfare, labor and social security attorneys, as well as the government. While cancer patients are receiving treatment, they also need to solve problems related to work and finances. Patients are likely to be experiencing many things for the first time, including taking time off from work. Having to visit many different offices while they are unwell is a major burden. Hence, it is important to divide things up so that consultation offices such as cancer consultation and support centers can synthesize content for consultation from the outset and address issues. The role of these centers will become even more important moving forward. We would like to cover the above information along with actual examples and discuss expectations from relevant personnel and departments from the perspective of occupational health physicians.