Retrospective 10-year study on Filipino seafarer medical repatriations: comparing two time periods

Our group has published two 5-year studies on the repatriation rates of Filipino seafarers from 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019. The Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006, which promotes seafarers' rights, was ratified in the Philippines in 2012. The current study investigates whether any change occurred since then.

We analyzed the total repatriation rates and medical causes of repatriation throughout the 10-year period. We performed a t-test to compare the repatriation rates in both 5-year periods, and χ-square tests for the medical causes.

The repatriation rate decreased from 2015 to 2019 with a t-test score of 0.0453 (P < 0.05). Musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as injuries/traumas were the most frequent causes of repatriation. There was a significant increase in the number of musculoskeletal and psychiatric/ /psychological causes for repatriation, and a decrease in injuries/traumas.

A historical review of the 10-year period across the two studies revealed that these changes coincided with implementation of MLC 2006 in August 2013. This was designed as the seafarers' Magna Carta, promoting and establishing various provisions to improve global seafarers' welfare including areas such as minimum age, seafarers' employment agreements, hours of work or rest, payment of wages, onboard medical care, accommodation, food and catering standards, health and safety protection, and accident prevention. Our study shows changes in repatriations that indicate an improvement in trauma rates, and while no method can definitively show statistical correlation or cause and effect, we can safely conclude that there is a positive correlation between the implementation of the 2006 MLC and the repatriation rates of Filipino seafarers.