Under the patronage of Her Excellency Dr. Mariam Ali Abdul Malik, Managing Director of Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), the Corporation organized its first Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Forum on Monday, April 28, 2025, under the theme: “Fostering Occupational Health and Safety in Health Care Setting.”

This forum serves as a platform for exchanging expertise, insights, and innovations that contribute to building a safer work environment. It emphasizes that a culture of occupational health and safety begins with awareness, shared values, and a collective mindset that prioritizes care, prevention, and responsibility.

In her speech during the forum, Dr. Mariam Ali Abdul Malik stated that the event reflects a commitment to providing safer, healthier, and more resilient work environments for healthcare workers. Occupational health and safety, she noted, go beyond merely following instructions; they are a core pillar for achieving excellence in patient care, ensuring employee well-being, and enhancing organizational sustainability.

She added that the event is an opportunity to exchange perspectives, celebrate innovations, and instill a culture that places employee health and safety as a top priority.

The forum, supervised by PHCC’s Occupational Health and Safety Directorate, saw the participation of a distinguished group of experts and specialists from various sectors.

Dr. Maryam Abdulla Al-Muslemani, Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Directorate at PHCC, described the forum as a strong starting point for a modern concept of occupational safety—one based on collaboration, learning, and proactive care. She emphasized that this initiative positions PHCC as a leading model in the field of occupational health and safety.

Participants addressed a range of vital topics in occupational health and safety, most notably the crucial role of senior management in advancing workplace health and safety, how to establish an organized and effective health and safety management system, and the impact of a strong institutional safety culture on employee well-being.

The forum also highlighted the importance of occupational health screenings for staff, discussed work-related injuries, and presented best practices in manual handling and healthcare work environments. Key challenges and paths to excellence in occupational health and safety were also discussed, with a special focus on the concepts of psychological safety, environmental safety, and sustainability.