Polish system of education in maritime health care and medical assistance for seafarers

Abstract

The Polish public awareness of the crucial importance of the own maritime economy to the very existenceof the national state has its historical reasons. The Polish maritime involvement has seen several dramaticcrises, but the Polish nationals have become an established group in the global marine trade workforceand are entitled to the proper health care. In this paper the main maritime health issues are mentioned.To meet the issues, also the national education system provides the opportunities for both seafarers andmedical professionals. The Polish doctors can specialise in the maritime medicine. In many cases the generalmedicine students formations include these topics as well. The psychological aspects are also takeninto account, both of the education of the seafarers and the organisational structure of the Polish healthcare system. Some recent aspects of the Polish participation in the international cooperation in the fieldof the medical support of the maritime economy are also described.