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Table 4 Output of the IAR meeting for ports

From: Evaluating intra-action reviews at points of entry: ongoing learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ā 

Discussion topics

Recommended actions agreed upon during the IAR

Follow-up after 3ā€‰months

Session 1 ā€“ Implementation of public health measures

ā€¢ The MDoH is an important tool to respond to cases on incoming ships, and its use for ships docked in the port;

ā€¢ Timely information on test results of the crew is essential but challenging due to the wide variety of testing companies;

ā€¢ Privacy regulations should be respected during handling of completed MDoHs and annexes;

ā€¢ The responsibility for implementation of measures and applicable exceptions for seafarers leave unclarities.

ā€¢ Agreements on a regional level should be made on how to receive the MDoH from docked ships;

ā€¢ The PHS arrange clarifications on COVID-19 notification for ships docked in the port;

ā€¢ The PHS internally evaluate the handling of health information and other personal data; and stress the importance of data handling in line with applicable laws and regulations;

ā€¢ All regional public health authorities should designate a key figure for sea port related issues in their organisation to warrant developments and communication.

ā€¢ Most PHS report they have made regional agreements on the notification procedure for ships docked in the port.

ā€¢ The PHS have started to or completed bringing the handling of health information and other personal data under the attention of the shipping agencies.

ā€¢ All but one PHS have designated a key figure for sea port related issues.

Session 2 - Regional, supra-regional and national cooperation

ā€¢ Conditions for contact among regional partners in the context of heavily growing and changing staff;

ā€¢ The existing and needed inter-regional and regional-to-national consultations and exchange of experiences;

ā€¢ The restart of the sea and inland cruises are a major dossier in the upcoming months.

ā€¢ A 3-weekly meeting will be installed by the RIVM to discuss on and cooperate in clarification, elaboration and tuning of (new) public health measures and policy for ports.

ā€¢ The 3-weekly meeting has been organized several times by the RIVM, inviting the MoH and IAR participants;

ā€¢ All but one PHS have joined the 3-weekly meeting;

ā€¢ Recommended actions formulated during the IAR meetings had been followed up during the 3-weekly meeting;

ā€¢ Five out of seven responding PHS report the contact with the RIVM has remained well or has improved.

  1. PHS public health service, MDoH Maritime Declaration of Health, MoH Ministry of Health, RIVM National Institute of Public Health