Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers) Convention, 1987 (No. 164) - Mexico (Ratification: 1990)

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Convention. Please indicate whether any consultations have taken place pursuant to this provision of the Convention.

Article 4, paragraphs (a), (c) and (d). The Committee asks the Government to indicate specific provisions of the national laws, regulations or collective agreements relating to occupational health protection and medical care for seafarers peculiar to work on board; specific measures adopted to guarantee seafarers the right to visit a doctor without delay in ports of call where practicable and to ensure that, in accordance with national law and practice, medical care and health protection while a seafarer is serving on articles are provided free of charge to seafarers.

Article 5, paragraphs 3-7. Please provide particulars concerning the status and qualifications of persons responsible for inspecting medicine chests and medical equipment, as well as an indication of specific measures undertaken or envisaged to give effect to these provisions of the Convention.

Article 7, paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 5. The Committee asks the Government to provide details of the pre-arranged system for providing medical advice by radio and satellite; details on the instruction of seafarers in the use of the ship’s medical guide and the medical section of the most recent edition of the International code of signals; details on the training of doctors providing medical advice in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention; and information concerning other measures undertaken or envisaged to give effect to these provisions of the Convention.

Article 7, paragraph 3(a)-(c), of the Convention. The Committee notes that the list of radio and satellite stations authorized to provide medical advice is still in the process of preparation by the Secretariat of Communications and Transport. It trusts that the Government will take all necessary measures to give effect to this provision of the Convention.

Article 8, paragraph 2. Please indicate whether any ships or classes of ships have been determined by national laws or regulations for the purpose of giving effect to this provision of the Convention.

Article 9, paragraphs 2 and 3. The Committee asks the Government to provide information concerning courses aimed at persons in charge of medical care on board who are not doctors; and to describe how the contents of the most recent edition of the International medical guide for ships, the Medical first aid guide for use in accidents involving dangerous goods, the Document for guidance - An international maritime training guide published by the IMO, and the medical section of the International code of signals, as well as similar national guides has been taken into account in the process of composition of the programme of the courses.

Article 11, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that while under this provision of the Convention separate hospital accommodation shall be provided in any ship of 500 or more gross tonnage, carrying 15 or more seafarers and engaged in a voyage of more than three days’ duration, under article 504(III) of the Federal Labour Law the employer has the duty to set up a hospital with necessary medical and support personnel when it has at its service more than 300 workers. The Committee trusts that the Government will take all necessary measures to bring its national legislation into conformity with this provision of the Convention.

Article 11, paragraph 7. Please indicate the number of hospital berths prescribed by the competent authority for various categories of ships.

Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2. Please indicate whether any standard medical form has been adopted by the competent authority to facilitate the exchange of medical and related information concerning individual seafarers between ship and shore in cases of illness or injury, and not for use in the process of medical examinations aimed at determination of fitness for the work at sea.

Article 13, paragraphs 1-3. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken in accordance with this Article, including copies of relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements.

The Committee also asks the Government to indicate specific provisions of national legislation which give effect to Article 6, paragraph 1; Article 9, paragraphs 1 and 6; Article 10; Article 11, paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9; and Article 12, paragraph 3, of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Please provide information on the number of seafarers covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention.

The Committee also asks the Government to transmit copies of relevant collective agreements dealing with the matters of health protection and medical care for seafarers (Article 2 of the Convention).