International Maritime assistance, Ambulance,  Event Medical Cover, Drug and Alcohol Testing, International Medical Assistance, Emergency Evacuation, Pre Employment Medical Testing.

MRI was recently engaged to handle the matter of a Russian crew member who became ill in South Africa and was admitted to Intensive Care at a private hospital there.

The crew member, it transpired, was suffering from the terminal stages of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and had, obviously, been in this condition for some time. Realising that the drugs and treatment were beyond his reach at home, he had, with the suspected connivance of his local manning agent (possibly with the help of a bribe) managed to secure employment on a vessel bound for South Africa.

By some personal fortitude, he managed to survive the voyage to South Africa where, on arrival, he proceeded ashore to a doctor and collapsed.

His condition was such that he was immediately admitted to hospital and placed directly in the Intensive Care Unit. His condition was so advanced that he was kept in ICU and given a high level of specialist treatment for a period of some weeks.

MRI was engaged by the P&I club to manage the case. Our specialist Doctor immediately established contact and reviewed the situation with local health care providers. It became clear that there was no hope of recovery and that, essentially, the crew member would most likely remain in care indefinitely. At a cost of  approximately US$40 000-00 a week.

After a number of consultations we were able to find a window of opportunity where the crew member was stable enough to allow for an air ambulance transfer back to Russia. MRI also consulted with a Russian health care facility to accept the patient on his return.

The repatriation was, finally carried out and the crew member returned home. He remained in care for another two weeks and then, unfortunately, succumbed to the disease.

This whole episode cost the ship owner and insurer in excess of US$500 000-00 in ICU and air ambulance costs. The unfortunate outcome could have been easily avoided if a proper pre-employment medical screen had been carried out. It would have found, at that stage, that the crew member was unsuitable for employment at sea. MRI provides a comprehensive pre-Employment Screening service in any part of the world backed up by UK Medical personnel at a tiny fraction of the cost that these “errors” incur.

It is surprising how many times MRI has been called upon to manage cases of exactly this nature which, inevitably cost Ship Owners huge sums of money.

It IS difficult to over stress the cost savings of proper reliable pre employment medical screening.

Terminal Aids Patient Taken on As crew - And the resultant cost to Ship Owner and insurer.

Date: November 2008