Ship’s medicine chest

In the ship’s sick-bay (hospital area), there should be properly arranged cabinets and drawers to store different categories of medicines separately. These categories include internal medicines, external preparations, poisons, and controlled substances, which require stricter security. A refrigerator must also be available, even if it is not located inside the sick-bay, for storing medicines that need to be kept at low temperatures.

To avoid confusion, medical equipment, instruments, and surgical supplies must be stored separately from medicines. The storage cabinets should be large enough to hold a practical working quantity of all recommended medicines and medical supplies, while also allowing neat and organized arrangement. Medicines stored in upright containers should preferably be arranged alphabetically according to their generic names, with labels clearly visible. Proper lighting must also be ensured for easy identification.

After use, all medicines and supplies must be returned immediately to their correct storage locations. Medicines should never be stored in unlabelled containers such as open glasses or cups. If the contents of any container are unknown, they must be discarded.

Usually, the responsibility for managing the sick-bay and the medicine chest is assigned by the shipping company to a trained deck or staff officer. This person should be skilled in basic medical procedures and should be the only one, apart from the ship’s master, who has access to the keys of the sick-bay, medicine chest, and the locker containing controlled drugs. This officer is directly accountable to the master for all medical supplies. A duplicate set of keys should be securely stored, such as in the master’s safe.

Controlled drugs such as narcotics, sedatives, and stimulants must always be kept in a locked compartment. To prevent items from shifting or falling due to the ship’s movement, shelves should have guardrails or dividers, and drawers should be fitted with secure catches.

The contents of the medicine chest must be inspected at least once a year by a qualified pharmacist, as some medicines may deteriorate or change over time even if no visible signs are present. Expiry dates must also be checked regularly, and expired medicines should be replaced promptly.