Abstract
There exists dead zone from the aspects of health equity and health medical equity for maritime personnel. They could not have been benefited from disease prevention and health promotion in comparison with shore personnel due to the restricted medical accessibility caused by long voyage ship operation. Furthermore, the system of health management and medical assistance for maritime personnel is insufficient, the continuous health monitoring system does not exist, nor health diagnosis system, maritime industrial accidents and occupational disease control systems are adequate. The International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization recommend their Member Governments to take necessary measures in the management of seafarers' health and diseases through conducting continuous and systematic investigation. Thus, this study intends to propose action strategy and tasks for introducing marine telemedicine system aiming to provide seafarers with health management service for the years to come. The conclusions of this study can be given as follows. First, it is required that a systematic medical service system needs to be provided to promote seafarers' health. Second it is recommended to establish the marine telemedicine system incorporating U-Health technology. Third, it is necessary to revise the relevant laws and regulations to introduce the marine telemedicine system. Fourth, it is also necessary to provide various assistance system at the national level in the furtherance of global marketing of marine telemedicine system.
