Report from the 8th International Symposium on Maritime Health

Nebojša Nikoliæ

More than 300 participants from 39 countries attended the four-day, 8th International Symposium on Maritime Health (ISMH) held in Rijeka, Croatia this past May. The meeting was organized by various Croatian medical societies under the chairmanship of Dr. Nebojša Nikoliæ, and was supported by important international organizations: the International Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, World Health Organization, International Transport Workers’ Federation, and International Organization for Migration, with members of these organizations participating. Several distinguished ISTM members - Prof. Robert Steffen, Dr. Santanu Chattergee, and Dr. Albie de Frey were also part of the program.

The theme of the meeting was "Maritime Medicine: A Global Challenge." Two hundred thirty one papers on topics of interest to the health and welfare of seafarers were presented: international cooperation in maritime health, inequalities in multiethnic crews (globalisation or neo-colonialism?), injuries and diseases, medical care aboard ship and in ports, behaviour and lifestyle (smoking and overweight issues), the impact of a ship’s electromagnetic field on health, toxic chemicals exposure, HIV/AIDS, seafarers knowledge of sexual behaviour, fatigue problems, hygiene, hyperbaric medicine, psychological issues, telemedicine, and the challenges of being a modern ship physician. One aim of the organizing committee was to introduce travel medicine in the program - vaccinations and malaria prevention, for example - as previous conferences were dominated by occupational health subjects. Lively discussions showed differences of opinions in many subjects among different maritime countries, a need for more consensuses, especially within Europe, and that such goals require much more research.

During the opening ceremony the draft of the new "International Medical Guide for Ships" was given to Dr. Gerry Eijkemans of the Occupational and Environmental Health Programme, World Health Organization. The Guide is expected to be available before the end of 2006. The discussions of the Guide brought into focus the varying international opinions regarding defibrillators on board merchant ships, medical training and education of ship’s officers, and the very different criteria used to assess fitness for maritime service. To address these issues, an IMHA working group was formed several years ago under the leadership of Dr. Tim Carter. The group is studying means to unify the fitness standards and to further develop ILO/WHO guidelines.

IMHA had its 5th General Meeting and board elections during the meeting. A new board was elected: Dr. Tim Carter - president, Dr. Nebojša Nikoliæ - vice president, Dr. Bas Riiken - secretary. Also elected to the board were Dr. Ulle Lahe, Dr. Suresh Idinani, Dr. Pedro De Guzman, and Dr. Michael Lund Nielsen.

The attendees overwhelmingly judged the meeting a total success professionally and socially, in large part to the efforts of the organizing committee and its chairperson, Dr. Nebojša Nikoliæ. Part of the meeting was held aboard a Croatian cruise ship, the rest on shore, in Rijeka and Dubrovnik.

The 9th International Symposium on Maritime Health will be held in Esbjerg, Denmark, 3-6 June 2007.