The Vietnam Association of Maritime Medicine (VAMM) has exerted efforts to realise the government’s strategy on developing health care system at sea and islands, said a leader of the association.

It has focused on conducting researches on maritime medicine and training doctors specialising in the field, said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truong Son, VAMM Chairman at a conference on October 11 in the northern port city of Hai Phong , which sought to better the association’s role in running health care systems at sea and islands.

At the same time, the association has also given attention to enhancing the capacity of medical workers aboard vessels, in particular first-aid skills, he noted.

It has also consulted local governments in coastal localities on how to implement the medical development strategy and raise public awareness of maritime medicine to the utmost, he said.

According to Dr. Pham Le Tuan, Deputy Health Minister, the application of land health care systems to Vietnam ’s sea and island areas has proved not to be suitable.

Meanwhile, the capacity of health care stations in maritime areas is still limited and there is a lack of assets aiding emergency service at sea, he noted.

Dr. Tuan briefed the participants on the contents and results of the Government’s project 371 on developing maritime health care system till 2020.

The project aims at stronger State management over maritime medicine, upgraded health care stations and expanded network of telemedicine centres at hospitals in six coastal localities.

He urged 28 coastal cities and provinces to speed up the issuance of health insurance for fishermen in order to better implement the project.-VNA