Annex J - Medical Care and Carriage of Medical Stores
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Statutory Documents - MCA Publications - Yacht Code - January 2019 Edition - Common Annexes - Annex J - Medical Care and Carriage of Medical Stores

Annex J - Medical Care and Carriage of Medical Stores

J1 - Medical Care for Seafarers:

(1) The requirements for onboard health and medical care set out in this Annex include standards for measures aimed at providing seafarers with health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore.

(2) The health protection and medical care shall in principle be provided at no cost to the seafarers.

(3) The employer and master shall ensure that all seafarers are covered by adequate measures providing for health protection and medical care, including essential dental and optical care which-

  • (a) ensure the application to seafarers of any general provisions on occupational health protection and medical care relevant to their duties, as well as special provisions specific to work onboard ship;

  • (b) give seafarers the right to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of call, where practicable;

  • (c) ensure that seafarers are given health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore, including prompt access to the necessary medicines, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment and to medical information and expertise;

  • (d) give seafarers the right to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of call, where practicable;

  • (e) are not limited to treatment of sick or injured seafarers but include measures of a preventative character such as health promotion and health education programmes; and

  • (f) minimise the risk of infection and ensure appropriate preventative measures such as immunisation are taken.

J2 - Provision of On-board Medical Care:

(1) The carriage of medical stores and equipment as provided for in this Annex is designed to provide an appropriate level of primary care for all persons onboard pending, where necessary, the provision of shore based medical services.

J3 - Medical Cabinet:

(1) A cabinet or other suitable facility for storing medicines and other medical stores shall be provided and the cabinet, shall be well ventilated and fitted in a place in the crew area of the ship which is-

  • (a) always dry;

  • (b) readily accessible from (but not sited in) the permanent or temporary hospital; and

  • (c) not subject to abnormal heat.

(2) The medical cabinet shall be provided with the following-

  • (a) an outer door with an efficient lock;

  • (b) where controlled drugs shall be stored, an inner cupboard fitted with a door and a lock which cannot be opened by the same key as the lock to the outer door;

  • (c) suitable arrangements for the storage of the medicines, medical stores and

  • (d) associated measuring devices; and a dispensing counter with a surface that can be easily kept clean.

(3) The medical cabinet shall be lit by an electric light (which may be inside or immediately outside it) which enables the contents to be clearly seen.

J4 - Carriage of Medical Stores:

(1) The ship shall carry onboard medical stores and equipment as specified by the Administration.

J5 - Standards of Medical Stores:

(1) All medical stores required to be kept onboard ship shall conform to the standards and requirements of the British National Formulary, the British Pharmacopoeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, or the United States Pharmacopoeia, and/or with the requirements and specifications of the Administration.

J6 - Carriage of Medical Guides:

(1) The ship shall carry guides as to the use of medical stores specified in section 13.3 including in particular instructions for the use of antidotes.

J7 - Medical Advice:

(1) All ships shall carry a complete and up-to-date list of radio stations through which medical advice can be obtained; and if equipped with a system of satellite communication, carry an up-to-date and complete list of coast earth stations through which medical advice can be obtained. Seafarers with responsibility for medical care or medical first aid onboard shall be instructed in the use of the ship’s medical guide and the medical section of the most recent edition of the International Code of Signals so as to enable them to understand the type of information needed by the advising doctor as well as the advice received.

J8 - Inspection of Medicines and Medical Stores:

(1) The medicine chest and its contents, as well as the medical equipment and medical guide carried onboard, shall be properly maintained and inspected at regular intervals, not exceeding 12 months, by a competent person or authority, who shall ensure that the labelling, expiry dates and conditions of storage of all medicines and directions for their use are checked and all equipment functioning as required.

J9 - Carriage of Doctors or Medically Trained Personnel:

(1) Ships carrying 100 or more persons and undertaking international voyages in excess of 600 miles shall carry a qualified medical doctor who is responsible for providing medical care.

(2) In yachts not required to carry a doctor the master shall ensure that any medical attention or treatment administered onboard to any person is given either by the master or under his supervision by a person so appointed by him for the purpose provided that the person so appointed shall have received medical training to an appropriate level in accordance with the STCW.

Parent topic: Common Annexes
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