To ensure seafarers’ health needs are better met
The International Maritime Health Association has launched a new initiative to ensure the health needs of seafarers working in the world’s maritime sector are better met.
The first phase of this service, provided by IMHA QUALITY (an independent not for profit body), will be a quality assurance and accreditation system for the conduct of seafarer medical examinations. It will cover both those required to issue statutory medical certificates, and the pre-employment examinations of ship operators and their insurers.
Since 1997 the International Maritime Health Association has provided a forum for those working to improve maritime health. It has developed this new initiative to help the maritime sector answer the following questions:
- How good are the medical services available to seafarers worldwide?
- Do they deal reliably and ethically with seafarer health problems?
- Do they ensure that health risks are identified and acted on?
The maritime industry is used to quality assurance, for instance using ISO standards, but it is generally recognised that such standards are not suitable for clinical care where complex professional judgments are needed and where peer review forms the core of quality assessment. The IMHA Quality standards are based on peer review and have been developed with one of the leading international clinical quality assurance organisations.
Later phases will accredit port health clinics, repatriation and rehabilitation providers, shore based telemedical advisory services and the provision of maritime occupational health advice.
Doctors and clinics will sign up to an accreditation programme based on meeting a set of healthcare standards. Their progress will be reviewed by assessors with expertise in maritime health, and when they comply with the required standards they will be awarded accredited status by an independent accreditation committee. This will be subject to review every three years. A directory of those who are accredited and those working towards accreditation will be publicly available.
Dr Suresh Idnani, President of IMHA said: “Both seafarers and their employers are often unhappy with the quality of the available maritime medical services. IMHA quality is a win-win initiative. Ship operators using accredited providers will know the medical advice they receive is sound. Seafarers will know that they have received care or decisions on fitness that are in line with the best professional and ethical standards when they are seen by an accredited provider. Good doctors and clinics will receive recognition for the quality of their practice which will both help them and also improve standards in their professional speciality of maritime health practice worldwide.”
Source: IMHA