BMA: How to handle expired medicines and medical equipment onboard

The Marine Notice provides further information about medical supplies onboard according to the Merchant Shipping (Medical Stores) Regulations 1986 (as amended), and the requirements of Standard A4.1 (Medical care on board ship and ashore) of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended.

Furthermore, the Marine Notice highlights that each vessel must carry at least the minimum scale of medicines and medical equipment commensurate with the vessel’s usual voyage category as described below:

• Category A : Ocean-going merchant vessels without a doctor on board and with no limitation on the length of trip
• Category B : Merchant vessels without a doctor that are engaged in coastal trade and not more than 24 hours from the home port or a port of call, including MODUs and vessels which remain continuously within a range of helicopter rescue services
• Category C : Any other vessels that are not under Category A or B and not excluded from the requirements of this Marine Notice.

The Master is responsible for managing medical supplies kept on board to ensure that the medications are properly dispensed and that records are maintained. This responsibility may be delegated to a properly trained and certified crew member

BMA mentions that medicines or medical stores which have passed the expiry date shall be stored in the “Expired Medicine” locker, until proper disposal is arranged.

Furthermore, BMA informs that expired medicines and medical equipment shall be returned to the supplier, registered medical doctor or pharmacist who can assure safe, ethical and environmentally friendly disposal. The vessel is to be provided with a receipt showing the quantity of medicines and equipment, registration details, company, contact details of the party who received the expired medicines and equipment for disposal.

Notwithstanding the above, the BMA recognises that it is not always possible to return expired medicines to the supplier or a pharmacist. In such cases, expired medicines may be disposed of to a hazardous waste disposal company, authorised or licenced by the local competent authority for such operations.

The vessel is to be provided with a receipt showing the quantity of medicines and equipment, registration details, company, contact details of the party who received the expired medicines and equipment for disposal.