[The application of telemedicine technologies under medical care provision to crew members on shipboard]

The impact of development of technique and technology as result of scientific and technological progress in modern society tremendously affected population life of people in its various areas. One of these technologies is telemedicine. The telemedicine technologies permit to ensure accessibility of highly qualified medical care to travelers, ship crew members and persons located at remote objects. The actuality of application of telemedicine technologies is excessively high in conditions of providing medical care to ship crew members working hundreds miles away from nearest medical care station. The article considers application of telemedicine technologies in world-wide practice. The legal norms of applying telemedicine in the Russian Federation were analyzed. The results of scientific research of telemedicine application on shipboard are analyzed and both advantages and disadvantages of technology under study are determined. The ways of resolving existing problems are proposed to minimize risks associated with application of telemedicine technologies on shipboard.