3rd Edition of Preventive Medicine World Conference 2027

Abstract

Background: Occupational health services (OHS) play an essential role in protecting workers from occupational diseases, injuries, and work-related health risks. Kuwait has a diverse workforce employed across sectors including oil and gas, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and public services. Rapid industrial development, the large expatriate workforce, and emerging occupational hazards highlight the importance of an effective and integrated occupational health system.

Objective:This paper aims to critically describe the current practice and organization of occupational health services in Kuwait, identify key challenges and gaps in service delivery, and propose priorities for strengthening the national occupational health framework in accordance with internationally recognized occupational health principles.

Methods: A descriptive review of occupational health practice in Kuwait was undertaken, focusing on the organization and delivery of occupational health services, occupational medical examinations, workplace health surveillance, occupational risk assessment, prevention of occupational diseases and injuries, workplace inspections, and collaboration between relevant governmental and workplace stakeholders. The current approach was considered in relation to internationally recognized principles of occupational health and prevention

Results: Occupational health practice in Kuwait encompasses a range of activities, including pre-placement and periodic medical examinations, fitness-for-work assessments, health surveillance of selected occupational groups, workplace inspections, assessment of occupational exposures, investigation of suspected occupational diseases, and recommendations for workplace risk control. Nevertheless, several areas warrant further development. These include variability in the scope and accessibility of occupational health services across economic sectors; fragmentation of responsibilities among relevant stakeholders; limited integration of occupational exposure assessment with medical surveillance data; and the need for strengthened national systems for the notification, investigation, surveillance, and analysis of occupational diseases and injuries. Further priorities include standardized evidence-based clinical and surveillance protocols, development of specialized occupational health competencies, multidisciplinary collaboration, and greater emphasis on primary prevention and risk-based surveillance.

Conclusion: Kuwait has an established foundation for occupational health practice, but further development toward a comprehensive, preventive, risk-based occupational health service model would strengthen worker protection. Priorities include establishing standardized national occupational health programs, strengthening surveillance and reporting systems, developing the occupational health workforce, improving intersectoral coordination, and promoting evidence-based practice. Alignment with international occupational health standards while addressing Kuwait-specific workforce and industrial characteristics could contribute to safer workplaces, earlier detection of occupational disease, and improved health and productivity of the working population.