Health services for seafarers in Estonia, plans for future, and possible improvements.

Estonian National Maritime Board has reported about 16,000 seafarers in Estonia. According to Estonian new national regulations concerning medical examination of employees on board ships issued on 9 April 1998 seafarers are examined only at Estonian Seamen's Hospital by experienced physicians of expertise commission. The validity of the certificates of fitness is 2 years, for persons younger than 21 and older than 50 years of age the validity is 1 year. The medical training of seafrers is carried out according to IMO Model Courses at special training ships and Estonian Disaster Medicine Centre. The International Medical Guide for Ships is used on sea-going vessels which fly Estonian flag.