Regulation for Providing Medical First Aid/Medical Care on Board Ferry Vessels in Croatia: Update Proposal

Abstract

The Republic of Croatia is a leader in maritime passenger transport in the Adriatic with indications of the further growth. The paper analyses current regulations for providing medical care on board vessels in Croatia for the category C2 of navigation, referring to vessels in the national coastal navigation. The prescribed quantities of medicinal products and equipment on ferry vessels were compared with the data of most common diseases and injuries of passengers on board, retrieved from the relevant literature. The comparison was conducted based on two indicators: the frequency and urgency of diseases and injuries. The analysis indicated the insufficient quantity of medicines and equipment, especially in the cases of life-threatening medical conditions. The regulations should follow the growing maritime passenger transport, where the large inflow of passengers is expected regularly in the summer period. All the personnel on board appointed for the provision of medical care are required to provide immediate treatment, increase the level of preparedness, and improve the prevention of possible health risks onboard vessels. The authors want to emphasize the importance of passenger safety on board as well as the preservation of strategic resource for the Croatian economy.