Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Purchase

(1)

(a)	In every vessel, a medical cabinet must be provided in a position adjacent to the permanent hospital, if any, required by regulation 28 or near to the sleeping room of the person in charge of sick persons on board.

(b)	The medical cabinet must be fitted in a position in which it will remain dry and must be remote from all sources of heat.

(2)

(a)	The medical cabinet must be of a size, design and construction suitable for storing the medicines, and medical appliances provided in the vessel for the benefit of the seafarers on board as prescribed in the Merchant Shipping (Ship's Medicines and Medical Appliances) Regulations, 1991.

(b)	In particular, the medical cabinet must be provided with the following:

(i)	An outer door fitted with an efficient lock;

(ii)	an inner cupboard, used solely for the storage of controlled drugs, fitted with a door and a lock which must be incapable of being opened by the key to the lock referred to in subparagraph (i);

(iii)

shelves so constructed as to facilitate the identification of medicines stored thereon;

(iv)	a dispensing counter or dispensing table, in either case with a surface which can easily be kept clean;

(v)	at least two drawers suitable for the storage of medical stores and used solely for that purpose;

(vi)	fittings which will enable hot water bottles to be carried in a hanging position;

(vii)

a rack suitable for holding devices for measuring medicines; and

(viii)

where applicable, a book of instruction as prescribed under the applicable medical regulations.

(3)	The medical cabinet must be lighted by an electric light which must be inside or immediately outside the cabinet, and which will enable all the contents of the cabinet to be clearly seen in the absence of light from any other source.

(4)	The medical cabinet and the place in which it is fitted must be so ventilated as to avoid deterioration of the contents of the cabinet.

(5)	The Authority may exempt from any of the requirements of this regulation any vessel of under 200 gross tons, being a vessel engaged only on voyages wholly between ports within the Republic if the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances.