MLC Pan mmc-339 201910

PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY F-265
(AUTORIDAD MARÍTIMA DE PANAMÁ) (DCCM)

V.00
GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF MERCHANT MARINE
(DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MARINA MERCANTE)
DEPARTMENT OF CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE
(DEPARTAMENTO DE CONTROL Y CUMPLIMIENTO)
MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-339
To: Shipowners/Operators, Company Security Officers, Legal Representatives of Panamanian Flagged

Vessels, Panamanian Merchant Marine Consulates and Recognized Organizations (ROs).
Subject: MEDICINE CHEST AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Reference: WHO ‘International Medical Guide for Ships’
1. All Panamanian Flag ships shall carry a medicine chest and medical equipment that complies with the
requirements in the current edition of the WHO ‘International Medical Guide for Ships’, and bearing in mind the
number of persons on board and the nature and duration of the voyage.
2. In the Panamanian Flag Ships, the shipowners shall ensure that seafarers working on board their ships have
prompt access to the necessary medicine, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment, and to
medical and occupational health protection information and expertise, which is generally comparable to that
provided to workers ashore.
3. The list assumes that on-board medical treatment is dispensed by an officer working under the responsibility of
the master. Ships with a doctor on board may carry an expanded range of medicines and other medical
equipment and supplies.
4. The list should include, for each item, such details as expiry date, storage conditions, and quantities remaining
after purchase or use. A record of treatment given to any person on board, including the type and quantity of any
medicines administered must be entered in the ship’s log.
5. The ship’s master is responsible for managing medical supplies kept on board, although he may delegate
responsibility for their use and maintenance to a properly trained crew member. Nevertheless, however well-
trained, crew members are not medically qualified. A doctor should always be consulted about serious illness or
injury or when any doubt exists about the proper action to take in treating a patient. All Panamanian Flag ships
carrying 100 or more persons and ordinarily engaged on international voyages of more than 3 days duration shall
carry a qualified medical doctor.
6. The medicines and medical equipment shall be inspected in a period, not exceeding 12 months, by the designated
medical officer on board, who shall ensure that the labeling, expiry dates and conditions of storage of all
medicines and directions for their use are checked and all equipment functioning as required. Panamanian Flag
State annual safety inspections shall also be used to verify that medicine chests.
7. Drawers or medicine cabinets should be large enough to store medicines and equipment in an orderly manner so
that they are easily identified and available for immediate use. This is particularly important for medicines and
equipment used in emergencies: these should be kept separately in the most accessible place. Generally, items of
the same type or category should be stored in a box, shelf or drawer, properly labelled. Controlled medicines
must be kept apart in a locked compartment, preferably the master’s safe, in a room that is locked when
unoccupied (see below, under Controlled drugs).
All medicines must be kept in good condition and protected against humidity and temperature extremes. When
not otherwise specified, they should be stored at room temperature (15–25 °C). A refrigerator should be available
nearby for storage of items that must be kept at 2–8 °C. This refrigerator should not be used for any other
purpose and should be equipped with a lock.
8. An expiry date for a medicine corresponds to the average maximum shelf life for that medicine, given appropriate
storage conditions. Medicines must be inspected regularly to make sure they have not reached or exceeded their
expiry dates: those that have, should be replaced and then discharged properly. Advice should be provided to the
port of the type of garbage (e.g expired medicines) to be discharged and its separation and the estimated
amounts. The port may have special discharge requirements related garbage which may carry certain disease (i.e
taken to a pharmacy to be destroyed) therefore Panama flag ships are encouraged to observe ports special
requirements of discharge of expired medicines as garbage. Certain types of medical equipment also have expiry
dates. Moreover, some countries impose fines on ships entering their territory with expired medicinal items on
board.
9. All Panamanian Flag ships shall carry on board the current edition of the WHO publication ‘International Medical
Guide for Ships’ and for those ships carrying dangerous cargoes, in addition shall carry the ‘Medical First Aid
Guide’ and special equipment on board according to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
for use in accidents involving dangerous cargoes.
10. In addition, the master of the vessel is required to maintain a register of controlled drugs and this register must
not be discarded before two years have elapsed after the date of the last entry.
11. Regarding the inspection of the oxygen cylinder, take note of the following:
 The bottles shall be annually inspected.

 The contents of the cylinders are to be checks and change as required manufacturers
 The cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested every five years.
 The hydraulic testing must be carry out be and accredited services agent or test facility.
 Following the hydraulic test a thorough inspection and internal examination must be carry out prior to
recharging.
 The test certificates must be provided and retained on board for the inspection.
This Administration will not extend the validity of the oxygen cylinder inspection as an on-board safety and health
protection measure.
12. International medical guide for ships: including the ship's medicine chest, 3rd Ed. World Health
Organization. http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/43814
October 2019 - Modification of paragraph 11 and new paragraph 12.

July 2019- Modification of paragraph 8.
September 2018- Inclusion of new paragraphs 7, 8 and 11.
October 2016.
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Circular or any request should be directed to:
SEGUMAR-Panama
Maritime Labour Section
Directorate General of Merchant Marine
Panama Maritime Authority
Phone: (507) 501-4241 / 42-34

Contact: mlc@segumar.com
PanCanal Building
Albrook, Panama City
Republic of Panama
Tel: (507) 501-5355 mmc@amp.gob.pa

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PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY F-265

(AUTORIDAD MARÍTIMA DE PANAMÁ) (DCCM)

MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-339

To: Shipowners/Operators, Company Security Officers, Legal Representatives of Panamanian Flagged

Subject: MEDICINE CHEST AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Reference: WHO ‘International Medical Guide for Ships’

 The bottles shall be annually inspected.

October 2019 - Modification of paragraph 11 and new paragraph 12.

Phone: (507) 501-4241 / 42-34

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