ILO means International
Labour Organisation, which was created in 1919 to develop international labour
standards and to ensure their application. The organisation standard includes
related social policies, human and civil rights matters. These standards have
resulted from international tripartite agreements on these matters. The ILO
standards take the form of around 30 international conventions and about 20
recommendations. These apply exclusively to merchant shipping. A new
consolidated ILO Convention covering all present conventions is planned for the
future.
Health Protection and Medical care
(seafarers), 1987
Convention: Convention No. C 164
Date of Adoption: 08.10.1987
Came in to force: 11.01.1991
The general conference of ILO
having been convened at Geneva
This convention has total 21
Articles.
Salient Issues Underlined In This
Convention:
Article 3: makes ship owners
responsible for keeping ships in proper sanitary and hygienic conditions
Article 4: Aim at providing seafarers with health, protection
and medical care as comparable, as possible to that which is generally
available to workers ashore. Guarantee seafarers the right to visit a doctor
without delay in ports of call where practicable. Ensures medical care is
provided free of charge to seafarers.
Article 5: Every ship to which convention applies shall
be required to carry a medicine chest. The contents of the medicine chest and
the medical equipment carried on board shall be prescribed by competent
authority taking in to account such factors as the type of the ship, the number
of persons on board and nature, destination and duration of voyage. Above
equipments and chest should be properly maintained and inspected at regular
intervals not exceeding 12 months, by responsible person. Expiry dates of
medicines to be checked. The competent authority shall ensure that the contents
of medicine chest are listed and labelled with generic names in addition to any
brand names.
Article 6: Every ship is required to carry a ship’s medical
guide, which will explain how the contents of the medical chest are to be used.
Authority shall ensure that most recent edition of International Medical Guide
is available on board.
Article 7: The competent authority ensures by a
pre-arranged system that medical advice by radio or satellite communication to
ships at sea, including specialist advice, is available at any hour of the day
or night, free of charge to all ships irrespective of the territory in which
they are registered.
Article 8: All ships carrying 100 or more seafarers and
engaged on international voyages of more than 3 days duration, shall carry a
medical doctor as member of crew responsible for providing medical care
Article 9: Ships which do not carry doctor will carry
one or more specified persons in charge of medical care and these persons shall
have to do a course approved by competent authority, regarding theoretical and
applied training in medical skills.
Article 11: Any ship ≥ 500 GRT,
carrying 15 or more seafarers and engaged in voyage of more than 3 days
duration, a separate hospital accommodation shall be provided. Some relaxation
can be given for ships operating in coastal trade. Hospital accommodation shall
not be used for other than medical purposes.
Article 12: A standard medical report
form shall be adopted by authority. The information contained in medical report
shall be kept confidential and shall be used for no other purpose than to
facilitate the treatment to seafarers.
Comments: The main contribution of this convention is
it has made the employer to ensure for the health and safety of seafarers on
board and to ensure ships are kept in proper sanitary and hygienic condition.
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