IMO International Medical Guide for Ships: 2007 [paper]

International Medical Guide for Ships.

The 3rd edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships shows designated first-aid providers how to diagnose, treat, and prevent thehealth problems of seafarers on board ship.

Since its first publication in 1967, the International Medical Guide forShips has been a standard reference for medical care on board ships. Thesecond Ed, written in 1988, was translated into more than 30languages, and has been used in tens of thousands of ships. This, thethird Ed, contains fully updated recommendations aimed to promoteand protect the health of seafarers, and is consistent with the latestrevisions of both the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and theInternational Health Regulations.

The International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006stipulates that all ships shall carry a medicine chest, medicalequipment and a medical guide. The International Medical Guide for Shipssupports a main principal of that convention; to ensure that seafarersare given health protection and medical care as comparable as possibleto that which is generally available to workers ashore. By carrying this guide on board ships, and following its instructions,countries can both fulfill their obligations under the terms of theMaritime Labour Convention 2006, and ensure the best possible healthoutcomes for their seafaring population.

Keywords: I115E