Training Circular No. 9 of 2004

Sub: Medical Care

Maritime safety and efficiency is of utmost concern to the Directorate General of Shipping(DGS), the constituted authority of the Government of India for all maritime affairs.

It was noticed that some training institutes barely met the minimum standards set by the Directorate, while other provided training facilities that were world class. In order to bring about uniformity of training, amenities and equipment provided by all, old guidelines were revised and new ones formulated. This was done by the DGS in consultation with the training institutes and employers (shipowners and manning agencies). Draft guidelines were displayed on the website of the DGS and comments invited from interested parties, regardless of the position or office held.

Meetings of interested parties were held and modification made to the draft guidelines. In keeping with Government policy, the guidelines have been made in as transparent manner as practicable. The final guidelines for Medical care is attached herewith.

It is expected that training institutes would follow these guidelines in letter and spirit. The above guidelines shall come into force w.e.f. 01.05.2004.

This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Addl. Secretary to the Government of India.

Sd/-

(Naresh Salecha)

Sr.Dy. Director General of Shipping

GUIDELINES FOR THE CONDUCT OF

MEDICAL CARE COURSE

ISSUED BY

THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING

To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference has been made herein to DGS Order no: 1 of 2003 (Guidelines for the conduct of Pre-Sea Training courses for Merchant Navy) wherever appropriate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BASIC DETAILS OF THE COURSE
   1. Aims:
   2. Objectives:
   3. Application:
2. QUALIFICATION & ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS
   1. Required Attendance
   2. Course Intake limitations
3. INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENT
4. COURSE DETAILS
   1. Course duration
   2. Course outline
   3. Detailed Teaching Syllabus
5. HOLIDAYS
6. FACULTY REQUIREMENT
   1. Qualifications and experience of course in charge:
   2. Qualifications and experience of faculty members:
   3. Qualifications and experience of Instructors
   4. Training of Trainers & Assessors Course:
   5. Visiting faculty members:
   6. Age limit for regular faculty members:
7. FACULTY STRENGTH
8. COURSE DURATION
9. ASSESSMENT
10. QUALITY STANDARDS
11. INSPECTIONS
12. FEES TO GOVT.

Annexure 1 - Additional equipment, etc

Annexure 2 ' Course outline

MEDICAL CARE COURSE

1. BASIC DETAILS OF THE COURSE

   1. Aims

   This course is designed for those designated to take charge of medical care on board ship and aims to meet the mandatory minimum requirements for knowledge, understanding and proficiency in Section A-VI/4 paras 4 to 6 and Table A-VI/4-2 of the STCW Code. This course is principally intended for candidates for certification as Chief Mates & Masters on sea going ships

   IMO Model Course 1.15 should be used in the preparation of the material for this course.

   2. Objectives:

   On successful completion of this course, the seafarer shall be able to take charge of medical care on board ship. The level of knowledge acquired shall be sufficient to enable the seafarer to take immediate effective action in case of accident or illness likely to occur on board ship.

   3. Application:

   Compliance with these guidelines shall be mandatory for all institutes from 1st May 2004.

2. QUALIFICATION & ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS

   1. Entry standards:

   Certificate of competency as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch as per Reg. II/1 or Reg. II/1 (NCV) of STCW 1995.

   2. Required attendance:

   100% attendance is required for successful completion of the course. However, in exceptional circumstances, a student is allowed absence of up to one day subject to his attending the lectures missed out during the next course at the same institute. The institute shall keep proper records of such cases and intimate Chairman of respective Academic Council.

   3. Course intake limitations:

   TThe number of students attending each session will depend on the availability of faculty members, the equipment and facilities available for conducting the course of training. However, the upper limit is 24 students per course

3. INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENT

   1. Physical requirement for classroom, black/white boards, overhead projector, screen, notice board, faculty room, study environment, teaching equipment are to be provided as per DGS order 1 of 2003.
   2. The institute shall have a library-cum-reading room of not less than 36m2 in area.
   3. Additional equipment, Training Aids, Video Cassettes/CDs/DVDs and publications, etc., required for this course are as per Annexure 1.
   4. The institute should have an authorisation letter from a reputed hospital for the candidates to make instructional visits to the hospital.

4. COURSE DETAILS

   1. Course duration: 10 days
   2. Course outline: As per Annexure 2
   3. Detailed teaching syllabus: As per IMO Model course 1.15

5. HOLIDAYS

   1. Sundays shall be holidays.
   2. Independence Day and Republic Day shall be compulsory holidays.
6. FACULTY REQUIREMENT
   1. Qualifications and experience of course in charge:

   MBBS Medical Practitioner OR

   Certificate of Competency as Master (FG) issued or recognised by Govt. of India

   2. Qualifications and experience of Faculty members

   MBBS Medical Practitioner

   3. Qualifications and experience of Instructors

   Duly qualified paramedic or

   Duly qualified nurse.

   4. Training of Trainers & Assessors Course:

   As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

   5. Visiting faculty members:

   Qualifications and experience of visiting faculty members should be the same as that of regular faculty.

   6. Age limit for regular faculty members:

   As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

7. FACULTY STRENGTH

Not less than one MBBS medical practitioner.

For demonstrations and practicals, there shall be one instructor for every eight students.

8. COURSE DURATION

Education & practical training shall be of 60 hours duration.

9. ASSESSMENT

The institute shall carry out continuous assessment of the students during the course and a final written, practical and oral assessment at the end of the course.

10. QUALITY STANDARDS

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

11. INSPECTIONS

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

12. FEES TO GOVT.

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

TEACHING AIDS

Equipment

Publications

Video films/CDs/DVDs on the following:

Burns

Hazards of drugs

AIDS

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

MEDICAL CARE COURSE

Course Outline