The problems of organization of medical care of crews of passenger ships in the system of inner water transport of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze organization of medical care of crews of passenger ships of inner water transport of the Russian Federation and to examine morbidity according to appeal for medical care of the crew during navigation. The analysis of organization of medical care in inner water transport covered the corresponding normative legal base of the late 1980s to present times. The search and analysis of available publications concerning issues of organization and provision of medical care to passenger river transport crews during and out of navigation was carried out. The estimation of morbidity statistics was implemented according data of medical log journal of out-patient reception of members of the crew of river cruise ship during navigation. The normative legal base of provision of medical care to crews of water river transport during navigation and on shore, and training and employment systems of ship physicians requires substantial revision. On average, 1.5 initial visits for medical assistance during navigation is for 1 crew members. The repeated visits accounted for significant proportion (48.0%) of all crew visits. The largest percentage of visits was related to rank-and-file staff (74.0%). In the structure of causes of visiting out-patient medical unit on board the first place is for injuries (22.0%), respiratory diseases follow (18.0%) and diseases of musculoskeletal system are third (11.0%). In the Russian Federation, the system of medical care support of the crews of water passenger transport requires a serious improvement. The structure of morbidity of the crew of a passenger river vessel during navigation (the prevalence of injuries, respiratory diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system) is determined by unfavorable factors of professional activity of sailors and dictates the specifics of training of ship physicians. It is necessary to work further the normative legal base regulating medical care of the crew during navigation and on the coast, training and employment of ship medical personnel, and developing and approval of unified quality standards for organizations (institutions) involved into medical support of inner water transport workers.