Strategies, means and models of health care in the Polish maritime industry, 1945-2007: summary of the presentation made at the time of the First International Congress of Maritime, Tropical, and Hyperbaric Medicine held on 4-6 June 2009 in Gdynia, Poland.
OBJECTIVE
To define, characterize, and explain the main goals and tools used for the functioning of health care in the Polish maritime industry.


BACKGROUND
The Polish merchant and fishing fleet grew significantly after 1945, and the number of the national seamen and deep-sea fishermen reached about 50,000 in the 1970s. But in the last two decades the number of Polish merchant ships and fishing boats has gradually decreased, and fewer crewmembers are employed on them. The analysis of the occupational health policy in the maritime industry in Poland points at the different strategies used and the means and models applied throughout the years for the organization of health care for seafarers.


METHODS
Analysis included: collection of data on morbidity and mortality among seamen, fishermen, and other maritime workers; health care systems for seafarers onboard ships and on land; prevention of diseases and accidents among crewmembers; pre-employment and periodic medical examinations and health standards for seafarers; and legal regulations. The main principles governing the model of health care for workers in this branch of industry in Poland in the years 1945-2007 were presented.


RESULTS
Three different strategies, means, and models of health care in the Polish maritime industry were employed during this period of time.
Jaremin
Bogdan
B
Interfaculty Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poland. bojar@amg.gda.pl
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000266:history*; D011044:Poland; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D012767:Ships; D000078329:Workforce