[Occupational medicine within the occupational health system: the evolution of specialist training]

A gradual shift in focus from occupational medicine seen only as a separate and relatively narrow medical specialty to multidimensional and multidisciplinary occupational health system is an evolutionary process. This process has also been observed in the area of specialist training and reflected in initiatives aimed at creating a new training program for future occupational medicine physicians regarded as occupational health professionals, generally approved in the European Union (EU). In the Polish training system addressed to specialists in occupational medicine such an evolution has also occurred. In the years 2000-2003, the training process and program were modified moving our system a bit closer to the trends and solutions accepted in more advanced EU member states. To assess the distance still existing between individual countries, an attempt was made in this paper to compare the role, tasks and functions (also fields of knowledge and skills) of occupational physicians in Poland and in other EU countries as shown in the present Polish specialist training program and in the proposal of the European program elaborated few years ago.