Occupational medicine in Canada and Poland in the 1990s

Canada and Poland share many demographic and economic characteristics: both countries are relatively large, urbanised, historically dependent on extractive industries, and comparable in population. The principal differences reflect their recent histories and economic systems. We compare the development of occupational medicine in each country and the historical forces that shaped the specialty in each country. We describe certain features of the Canadian occupational health system that may be of interest and propose a program of scientific cooperation for mutual benefit.