It is well known that marine waters cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. More than 97 per cent of the Earth’s water supply and 90 per cent of its habitable space rely on marine environments.
Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people. Moreover, over three billion people worldwide depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Fish continues to be one of the most-traded food commodities globally.
The marine industry is vital to Malaysia as a major contributor to the nation’s trade and commerce. As this industry prospers, the need to protect and promote the health and well-being of those who navigate its waters becomes increasingly significant.
A key responsibility of a marine pharmacist is the physical inspection of ships to ensure they comply with medical regulations. This complies with the provisions laid out in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
A licensed marine pharmacist is appointed by the Marine Department with a certificate of pharmacist (Medicine Chest) under the Malaysia Shipping Notice 8/2013. This certification allows the licence holder to act as a Medicine Chest Inspector.
A licensed marine pharmacist is responsible for conducting comprehensive audits to ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety protocols, and quality standards.
The aim is to ensure that all permitted vessels have a certificate of adequacy of the Medicine Chest. This is crucial to help shipowners meet the requirements and specifications outlined in the International Medical Guide for Ships.
According to the regulations, the Marine Director approves qualified Maritime Pharmacists to carry out these inspections. The pharmacist is responsible for issuing the Medicine Chest certificate, which certifies that a ship is adequately stocked with medical supplies and that these supplies comply with the necessary standards.
The certification process includes a thorough inspection of the ship’s medicine chest to ensure that it meets the requirements outlined in Standard A4.1, paragraph (4)(a) of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
This standard ensures that vessels are equipped with the necessary medical supplies to treat illnesses and injuries that might occur at sea. Hence, this standard proceduce can help to ensure that ships are compliant with international maritime health standards and are prepared to handle medical emergencies while at sea.
Ship workers and passengers, while on the sea are far from fully equipped with health care services. Even though vessels may have some medical provisions, they rarely have adequate facilities for sufficient patient care.
Such constraints, often aggravated by inadequate sea communications, limit the extent and effectiveness of available medical advice while onboard.
Additionally, international seafarers are required to follow the medical insurance policies and administrative procedures in foreign countries.
Moreover, many maritime professionals face mental health challenges due to isolation and demanding work conditions.
Marine pharmacists do not sit idle in light of these issues and rather promote awareness about self-medication to people traveling in ships. Through this, the risk of self-medication is given, especially when there is no reliable medication information on the sea.
Apart from supplying wide range of medication and medical devices, marine pharmacists also provide medical officers advice on the safe disposal of biomedical waste as per the requirement of local authority regulation.
Furthermore, marine pharmacists conduct training to designated ship medical attendants on basic first aid, medication dispensing, prescription writing, and other emergency procedures.
In addition, marine pharmacists also offer consultancy services concerning psychological health of seafarers and other people in the maritime industry during pandemics like Covid-19 and other public health crises like mpox.
Additionally, with the advent of telehealth applications and various online mobile medical application, mobile technology in maritime health is also on the rise. With this technology, seafarers and passengers can consult with pharmacists for medication advice virtually, regardless of their location.
The use of IT also enables virtual audits of the ship’s drug stock, issuance of electronic certificates of compliance, and logistics management for continuous availability of appropriate medications. This eradicates not only the supply chain challenges but also communication barriers, amplified by sparsely available connectivity at sea.
Recognising the pivotal importance of pharmacists in maritime health, concerted efforts should be made to attract and encourage more pharmacists to actively participate in this sector.
This includes promoting specialised training, raising awareness about the fulfilling career opportunities within maritime health, and facilitating partnerships between educational institutions and the maritime industry.
Continued investment in technological solutions could elevate the standards of maritime health and ensure that seafarers can confidently accomplish their duties.
Dr Ganesh Sritheran Paneerselvam is from the School of Pharmacy and Digital Health and Innovations Impact Lab, Taylor’s University. Prof Long Chiau Ming is from the School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
