KUCHING: Sarawak has secured the bid to host the 24th Asian Congress on Occupational Health (ACOH), which will be held from Aug 5 to 8, 2026, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said this marks the second time Malaysia is hosting the prestigious triennial event, with the first held in Kuala Lumpur in 1997.
The 2026 congress is expected to draw at least 2,000 occupational safety and health experts from around the world.
“Occupational health is an increasingly important field that requires the involvement of multiple sectors, departments and ministries. It’s not just about doctors and medicine — we need more courses and training in occupational health.
“We are very honoured and privileged to host the congress, which carries the theme: Navigating Global Cross-Cultural Perspective on Occupational Health: Shaping the Future for Sustainability.
“This congress is very interesting because the theme is about navigating cross-cultural perspectives. Cultural context is vital in occupational health. The future is here, and sustainability must be part of it,” he said when launching ACOH 2026 at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Monday (April 21).
ACOH, which is a triennial congress, will focus on how cultural differences shape occupational health practices and how these insights can drive sustainable development in the field. It also aims to foster collaboration between academia and the workplace to advance occupational health regionally.
The scientific programme will feature three plenary sessions and 12 symposia, covering topics such as Sustainable Practices in Occupational Health, Innovations in Occupational Health, Ergonomics, Industrial Hygiene and Mental Health and Wellbeing. Poster and free paper presentations will also be held throughout the three-day event.
The 2026 edition will be hosted by the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia (AOEMM), in collaboration with the Asian Association of Occupational and Environmental Health (AAOEH).
The successful international bid was the result of joint efforts by AOEMM, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).
The event is supported by the Ministry of Human Resources through the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Sarawak, Sarawak Health Department, Malaysian Federation for Occupational Safety and Health (MyFOSH), and Society of Occupational Medicine UK (SOM).
For more information on the 24th Asian Congress on Occupational Health 2026, members of the public can visit https://aaoeh.org/. For social media updates, they can visit https://www.facebook.com/aoemmalaysia/.
