Presented the new School of Higher Education for Ship's Doctors

The new School of Higher Education for Ship's Doctors, which is was presented this afternoon at the auditorium of the Ministry of the "Cosimo Piccinno" Health in Rome, is the result of a project carried out by the shipowners' association Assarmatori in close collaboration with the Accademia Italiana della Merchant Marine, the University of Genoa, the Order of Malta, the International Medical Radio Centre (CIRM) and the Office of Health Maritime, Air and Border (USMAF), an initiative that has found the support and support of the Ministry of Health.

"The experience of Covid - highlighted the Undersecretary for Health, Andrea Costa, on the occasion of the presentation of the School - highlighted, among others, the key and decisive figure of the ship's doctor, who in these two years had to face and manage decidedly critical situations and out of the ordinary, simultaneously assisting hundreds of passengers. A role, too often little known, but which however guarantees peace of mind and safety to the many passengers Maritime. This course, therefore, represents an incredible opportunities in line with the needs of having doctors trained specifically on the real activities by carry out on board. This type of training could represent a model that can be replicated by other realities. The Ministry of Health would play the role of guarantor by authorizing public facilities, keeping a record of courses and certificates issued, checking the programs. With this in mind, strengthening the function of ship's doctor - specified the Undersecretary - the Commission will then have to be restarted for the Revision of the Regulations of On-board Health Services for achieve the revision and integration of the rules in a short time in this regard'.

"The project - explained the president of Assarmatori, Stefano Messina - born from the will of us owners of provide an effective answer to a problem such as the lack of adequate availability of the figure professional of the ship's doctors who, especially during the summer period, involves significant critical issues that in cases more serious are likely to interrupt the smooth running of activities, especially ferries, putting at risk the continuity guaranteed by the services themselves. From this point of view it is necessary to remember how even the pandemic still in progress further emphasised the need for adequate medical presence, especially in particular environments such as those of ships. This initiative, which makes us proud and for which we can only thank our partners, it aims precisely to be a first concrete response and to offer new stimulants job opportunities for Italian staff and professionals».

Susy de Martini, consultant of Assarmatori and coordinator scientific of the course, he recalled that "it did not exist until today a specific school for this nowhere in the world and Italy - he underlined - today establishes an important primacy".