Whereas maritime safety has significantly developed in recent years in Europe, maritime medicine has not had a similar success. The development of the international fleet and the appearance of multi-ethnic crews have led to an increase in the risk of occupational stress, job accidents, epidemics, sleep disease, etc. Out of a growing necessity, the harmonization of practice in maritime medicine appeared along with telediagnosis systems.
This is the actual purpose of the Department of Maritime Medicine AVAMEDICA. Our efforts are based on our acute desire to find our own guiding principles in the documents of the International Association Lucrative Maritime Medicine.
(IMHA) IMHA is an international organization of doctors who have decided to scientifically promote and enhance the quality of sailors’ health, and created a forum where ideas, experiences and research efforts come together in order to achieve the common goal.
Who is responsible for performing the required medical examinations?
Any qualified doctor may perform the required medical examinations as long as he or she is certified to do so under the new STCW Convention. The doctor must be familiar with the details of maritime work as well as its requirements and demands. Many companies have their own doctor assigned to their staff. This is highly recommended since this doctor knows the work conducted on board very well, and has access to the staff’s medical files and history.
According to the ILO Convention 73/2126, article 8, the employee is entitled to request a new medical examination performed at a different clinic or by a different doctor, if the health certificate is not granted at first.
