Date: 2023-07-05Category: MS NoticeState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
MS Notice 08 of 2023 - Amendment to the procedure for approval of medical Examiner of Seafarers as per Rule 4 of MS Medical Examination Rules, 2000 reg.
**Executive Summary**
This document is Merchant Shipping Notice No. 08 of 2023, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, on July 4th, 2023. It addresses amendments to the procedure for approval of medical examiners of seafarers, as per Rule 4 of the MS Medical Examination Rules, 2000. The notice outlines new requirements and provisions for approval and renewal of medical examiner status.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose:** To address complaints and grievances regarding the conduct of medical examinations for seafarers, the Directorate has decided to add new parameters for the approval of medical examiners.
* **Medical Examiner Qualifications and Infrastructure**
* Minimum qualification for doctors: MBBS from a recognized university approved by competent authority.
* Requirement for clinic/hospital: Doctors must have their own clinic/hospital with basic infrastructure, including a waiting area, examination room, testing lab, and sample collection area, as per the guidelines of MS Medical Examination Rules 2000.
* Laboratory Approval: Doctors should have testing laboratories approved by NABL/NABH or a tie-up with such labs.
* **Approval and Renewal Process**
* Existing approvals: Approvals granted to Medical Examiners with degrees other than MBBS will remain valid and are subject to renewal based on compliance with applicable provisions.
* Land Documents: Documentary evidence of land ownership/lease and latest photographs of the clinic are required for initial approval or renewal.
* Fees: A minimum processing fee of ₹25,000 is required for initial approval and renewal. A fee of ₹10,000 must be paid through bharatkosh which is non-refundable. Changes to address/contact details require a ₹2000 fee through bharatkosh.
* Minimum Tests: Renewal will be considered if the doctor has conducted at least 25 medical tests of seafarers in metro cities and 15 in non-metro cities annually.
* **Validity and Renewal**
* Validity: Approval is valid for 5 years from the completion of the Medical Familiarization course or until the Medical Examiner reaches 65 years old, whichever is earlier.
* Renewal After 65: Medical Examiners over 65 can apply for renewal, potentially up to age 70, subject to circumstances and a fit certificate.
* **Other Requirements**
* Cancellation: Approval can be cancelled if any information or documents are found to be fake or compromised.
* Outsourcing Tests: Doctors can outsource tests to NABL/NABH-approved labs, but samples must be collected at the doctor's clinic.
* Feedback: A closed-loop feedback system must be in place to ensure continual improvement.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Medical Examiners of Seafarers**
* **Impact:** Stricter requirements for qualification, infrastructure, lab affiliations, and renewal processes. Affects both new applicants and those seeking to renew their approval.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with the new provisions, including MBBS qualification, appropriate infrastructure, NABL/NABH-approved laboratory, updated documentation, fees, and feedback system.
**Stakeholder: Seafarers**
* **Impact:** Aims to improve the quality and standardization of medical examinations, ensuring proper equipment, infrastructure, and reliable laboratory testing.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the updated standards for medical examiners and report any instances of non-compliance to the Directorate.
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Shipping**
* **Impact:** The Directorate is responsible for implementing and enforcing the amended rules, processing applications, and addressing complaints.
* **Action Required:** Enforce the new guidelines, oversee the approval and renewal processes, and monitor compliance to ensure the quality of medical examinations for seafarers.
Key Entities Referenced
MS Medical Examination Rules, 2000: The primary regulation governing the medical examination of seafarers, which this notice amends.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuing authority of the Merchant Shipping Notice, responsible for implementing and overseeing maritime regulations.
Merchant Shipping Notice: Official communication providing updates or clarifications on maritime regulations and procedures.
NABL/NABH: Accreditation bodies for testing laboratories, indicating required approval for laboratories used by doctors examining seafarers.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No. 25-1701 1117312021 Date 4th July 2023
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 08 of 2023
Subiect: Amendment to the procedure for anproval of medical Examiner of Seafarers
as per Rule 4 of MS Medical Examination Rules. 2000 res.
1. This Directorate vide MS Notice 0l ol20l5, had issued guideline for approval of medical
Examiner of Seafarers as per Rule 4 oiMS Medical Examination Rules, 2000.
2.
Whereas the Directorate has received many complaints / grievances from the seafarers that
the medical examiners are not conducting the examination as per the terms of Medical Examination
Rules, 2000. The complaints / grievances received pertains to aspects such as lack proper
equipment, inadequate infrastructure, and inadequate basic amenities & hygienic surroundings,
doubtfulness in the laboratory tests reports ofthe seafarers, and no uniformity in the fees charged
from the seafarers by approved Medical centers etc.
3. Taking cognizance ofthese serious lapses, and as per the provisions ofthe M.S. Medical
Examination Rules 2000, and in continuation of the M.S. Notice 0l of 2015, this Directorate has
decided to add new parameters for all future approval ofthe medical examiners of seafarers.
4. All existing approvals accorded to the Medical Examiners who are having recognized
degee other than MBBS will remain valid and shall be renewed subject to compliance with all
other applicable provisions. However, henceforth all medical examiners approval shall be granted
only upon compliance with all existing and below mentioned provisions.
5. Addition provision to be complied with:
a) The Doctor's minimum qualification shall be MBBS from a recognized university
approved by competent authority.
b) The Doctor should have own clinic/hospital with basic minimum infrastructure
requirement, i.e. waiting area for seafarer, examining room, testing lab, collection ofblood
and urine sample etc. as per the guideline of MS Medical Examination Rules 2000.
c) Doctor should have testing laboratory approved by NABLA\IABH or they may have tie up
with NABL,NABH laboratory only.
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gth Floor, BETA Building, l-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Mllage Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai400042
stifr"t No., +g1-22-2575 2o4oh/23 frfl/Fax.: +g1-22-2575 2o2gt35 {-td/Emait: ogship{gs@nic.in tQ(t{UWebsite: www.dgshipping.gov.ind) A documentary evidence of land documents (ownership / lease) in respect of clinic along
with latest photogaphs of the clinic is to be provided at the time of initial / renewal of
approval.
e) A minimum processing fee of t25,000 for initial and request for renewal approval of
t10,000/- to be paid through bharatkosh which is non-refundable' For change of
address/contact details on the DG shipping medical profile a fee of t2000/- paid through
bharatkosh.
f) Renewal of Medical Examiner will be considered if he/she had done at least 25 medical
tests ofthe seafarer in one year in the metro cities and l5 for the non-metro cities.
g) The approval shall be valid for 5 years from the date of completion of the Medical
Familiarization course, or the date up to the validity of registration of Medical Council or
the Medical Examiner reaches the age of65 years, whichever is earlier.
h) The Medical Examiner who attains the age of65 years, and desires to renew the approval,
may apply to this Directorate. The renewal in such cases may be considered upto age of70
years depending on the circumstances subject to production of fit certificate from the
approved central / State / local Municipal authorities.
i) The approval so granted shall stand cancelled ifany information or document found fake
or compromised at any point of time.
j)
The Doctor may collaborate and outsource the various tests to Laboratory centres approved
by NABLA.IABH laboratory. ln Such cases, sample is to be collected at the doctor's
approved clinic.
k) Closed loop feedback system has to be institutionalized, to ensure that feedback received
is used towards continual improvement.
This is issued with the approval ofthe Director General ofshipping in the rank of Secretary to the
Govt. of India.
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(c apt. Nitin Mu
Nautical Surveyor-cum-Dy. Director General of Shipping(Tech.)