Pre-employment medical examination for seafarers also known as PEME is mandated by international regulations for persons working on ships.
Many seafarers undergo PEME everyday. From first-time cadets to old and experienced seamen, each one must prove their mind and body fitness by passing the required medical exams.
Unfortunately, not all seafarers who take these batteries of tests come out unscathed.
The most common illnesses seamen encounter are hypertension, fatty liver, tooth extraction, restoration, hearing, and visual problems. Sometimes, there are other illnesses more profound than those.
Cons”Pera”cy
For some, they get surprised by the results of their medical exam. They blame the clinic thinking they’re only milking seafarer’s money. I had my fair share of this event with a personal experience during my medical exam.
But while this is a gimmick to some medical institutions, let us first look at how well we are prepared before we cast stones on them.
Just a side note.
These tips, tricks, to do and not to do lists are not 100% guaranteed. There are other different factors that affect the results. But following these guidelines increases your chances of being “Fit To Work” for your next contract.
Easy Steps to Pass the Seafarer’s Pre-employment Medical Exam
Our goal is to be “fit to work” after the examinations. This is one of the most important parts of our employment. With proper preparation and self-discipline, this is totally possible and achievable without any hits or findings.
1. Dental Preparation
Before your actual medical exam, go to a dentist and have a check-up. Choose a responsible dentist known for his/ her quality service. Follow his advice whether a teeth cleaning, restoration, or extraction is required. It will cost you some money today but it will save you a lot more in the long run.
My latest private dental work was four years ago. Since then, all my oral exams for PEME took less than two minutes. They never asked me for another “linis, pasta, o bunot”.
2. Seven-Day Diet
Seven days. Give yourself seven days of preparation and you will be fit for your medical exams.
After that, a seven-day diet of fruits and vegetables. Eat only fruits for breakfast. Get those with high fiber. A well-cooked fresh vegetable with enough meat or fish on it is very helpful.
In between meals, consume only fruits during snacks including night snacks if you want to. Avoid fatty and oily foods especially those with high preservatives. Too much carbohydrates is also not helpful.
Don’t forget to drink a glass of milk before going to bed. Most findings from PEME are related to fatty and oily foods.
3. Zero Alcohol Policy
Avoid alcohol too. Do not take a single sip during this seven-day preparation.
Why?
Because a sip could turn into a glass, then a bottle, a case, and the last thing you know is that you’re having a party!
Alcohol causes anemia, and hypertension damages brain cells and destroys your liver. Your lungs are also heavily affected even if you don’t smoke since your drinking partners do.
4. Exercise
Regular exercise is very powerful. Spend at least 60 minutes of routine exercise every morning. Make sure to meet the sunrise as you sweat yourself up.
Sunshine enables your skin to produce Vitamin D which is responsible for increased absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and zinc.
Jogging is recommended. Sweat is fat crying- a good sign for your medical exam! During exercise, your body releases a chemical known as endorphins. Endorphins are similar to morphine- they help create a natural “high”.
Overall, exercise helps relieves stress, increases energy, strengthens the heart, builds strong bones, reduces fats, lowers blood pressure, and makes you look younger than your age.
5. Enough Sleep
After a day’s work, your body needs to repair itself. This function can only be done through sleeping.
The proverb, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” still holds true. Generally, an adult is required to sleep 8-9 hours a day, and 9-10 hours for children.
As you sleep, your body removes toxins and heals the broken cells and tissues. A good night’s sleep will keep you refreshed and recharged.
6. More Water
To fully rid your body of the toxins that it gathered, drink lots of water.
About 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Our body is also 70% liquid. There must be profound reasons why we should drink more water. As a rule of thumb, consume 8 glasses of water every day.
But you can always drink more especially if you are engaged in an exercise program. It is important to always keep yourself hydrated. Most of the toxins in your body will come out in the form of liquid.
Have you noticed? Your urine smells terrible and looks colored when you drink less water than when you drink more! Fruits are also high in liquid content so consider eating them.
7. Physical Health is as Good as Your Mental Health
Now that we know how to take care of our body, the last thing to do is to take care of yourself- your mind!
Your mind and body connection is very strong and powerfully connected. You can’t have a healthy body when you don’t have a healthy mind and vice versa.
To create a powerful, positive mind, LAUGH. That’s right. Watch movies that make you happy. Listen to songs that keep you positive. Avoid news as much as possible. Play with your kids. Date your wife. Do something fulfilling and kick out negative news and thoughts that come in (perhaps friends too?).
Conclusion
Passing the pre-employment medical examination for seafarers doesn’t have to be difficult. We just have to take care of our health not just before the exam but every day. I have tried those steps and proven them effective.
My seven-day preparation saves me a lot of time and money than no preparation at all. The process is much more enjoyable when you know that your results will be great.
My medical exam went very smoothly. I no longer have to buy medicines or wait another week for a follow-up check-up.
May the winds be in your favor!
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
pwd pa po ba mka sampa kahit may mild abliyopic na mata? kasi lahat n na test sa mata normal namn..d naman daw pwd eh lasik kasi ok naman daw mata..hngang 20/50 lng kaya basahin
Good day sir. According to STCW, “The eyesight requirement for look-out duty without eyesight corrections for each eye has to be at least 0.1 (6/60) and, with eyesight corrections is at least 0.5 (6/12).”
Pero depende pa rin yan sa kumpanya na sasampahan mo sir so better tanungin mo rin sila.
makakapasa po kaya kahit di kumpleto ngipin?
Yes po in most cases.
sir pwedi po ba gamitin ko yung medical certificate na kinuha ko for training, kahit di siya galing sa accredited na clinic? meron naman po siya nakalagay na PHYSICALLY FIT TO WORK, sa city health po namin ko nakuha yun tapos na check naman din yung vital sign ko and BP, weight and height. Tapos sa medical ko nag Drug test po ako, Chest Xray, Urinalysis and CBC sa dugo po. pls po reply…
Good day po. Requirement po kasi sa MARINA na dapat galing sa accredited medical clinic ang gagamitin for COP processing. You can try to submit it po and see how it works out :).
Pwede ba makasampa kahit may asthma?
Depende sa kumpanya yan sir. Mahirap kasi trabaho sa barko kaya may ibang kumpanya na sobra higpit sa medical.
Sir what if meron pong almoranas or hemorrhoid makakapasa na? Or magrerecommend sila ng gamot?
Kadalasan sa hemorrhoids sir nagccause ng discomfort na nakakaapekto sa iyong pag galaw kaya most likely mag mmedication ka muna bago ka i-FTW.. Magrerecommend din naman yan sila ng gamot or if operation kung malala na.
Pwede po ba makasampa ang isa lang ang itlog ng ari?
Pwedeng pwede sit me nkasama po ako sa barko isa lang itlog nya.
pwede poba makasampa ng kung may pectus excavatum?
In some cases, pwede naman sir as long as maipasa mo ang medical. Pero dependi rin sa flag state at kumpanya kung ano ang policy nila. Mahirap at nkakapagod din kasi ang trabaho sa barko. May mga araw na wala kayong tulugan, magbubuhat kayo ng mabibigat na bagay, lulusong sa loob ng enclosed spaces, at iba pa.
pwede po ba makasampa kung may sinusitis? salamat po.
Pwede naman po as long as pumasa sa medical. At hndi naman din cgro big deal ang covid19 ngayon so I think okay lng yan.
Possible po ba makasampa pag may skin allergy
Depende yan sir pero nagagamot naman yang skin allergies.
pag may psoriasis sir makakapasa po kaya?
Depende sa severity at company policy sir.
Itatanong ko lng po sir kung may issue ba sa mga medical center kung may history ng surgery sa braso dahil sa fracture?
Meron naman disclosure section ung medical forms sir tungkol sa history ng illness mo. kasama na jan kung nag-undergo ka ng surgery. Mahirap ang trabaho sa barko sir at npaka physically demanding. tapos expose kpa sa init at lamig. kung mlaman yan ng medical clinics bka ideny ka lalo na kung mahigpit sila at ang principal na hinahawakan nila. pero subukan mo lang muna magtanong sa inaapplyam mo na kumpanya.
How about eczema po due to strong chemicals makakapasa parin po ba yun sa medical?
Good day po. Since ang eczema ay nagdudulot rin ng food allergies, lagnat at asthma, maaring hindi ito payagan ng medical clinic at kumpanya. Meron pong sinusunod na guidelines ang mga medical centers natin at according po ito sa international standards.
Hi good day pwede po bang makasampa kahit medjo malabo ang mata?
Pwede naman sir.
Pwede po ba mag seaman kahit my scur yung xray?
Scur po ba sir o scar?
Pwede po sumampa kahit May mild scoliosis, ? Sana po masagot.
Hello and good day.
Working on board requires varying degree of physical effort. Pre-employment medical exams are designed to screen seafarers of their physical and mental capabilities. Mahirap po kasi talaga ang trabaho sa barko at minsan kaunti lang tulog mo dahil meron kelangang tapusin.
That being said, I don’t think doing heavy jobs is good for someone with mild scoliosis. That condition can be progressive po and isa pa na iconsider is, insufficient ang medical facility sa barko compared sa lupa if something happens.
Lastly, wla pa po akong nkasama na meron ganyang condition. However, meron po akong mga nakasama na may ibang conditions pero matatagal na sila sa kumpanya, matatanda na at may pinipirmahang waiver.
Hello po ask ko lang po if pag may pustiso or dentures pede parin makasampa ng barko I have 2 dentures po sa front. Sana masagot thanks
Pwede pa sir. Meron akong mga nakasama sa barko na nka pustiso okay nman basta pumasa sa medical.
pwede po bang mag seaman ang naka eyeglass ask lang po pangarap kopo talaga maging seaman someday
Pwede sir basta maipasa nyo ang medical exams.
Syphilis po sir makakasampa kaya? worried po ako sir please advice me
Pagaling ka muna sir para makasampa ka ulit. Nagagamot nama iyan.
These tips are not only for seamen or those who are planning to enter PNP or any other-related job that requires physical fitness. These tips are generally useful to everybody who wants to achieve sound body and mind. Thank you for this sir.
You’re welcome po and thank you also for dropping by.
Salamat sa pagbigau ng kaalaman sa amin.
You’re welcome sir. Hope this helps. Good luck sa medical nyo.
Pwed ba colorblind sa barko?
Depends po sa severity ng color blindness nyo. Malalaman po sa medical exam yan during Ishihara test.
good day sir, ask kulang po nag pamedical po kc ako request ng doctor ung result pneumonia daw po,. pero nong nag apply akong trabaho local lang po yong result is normal requirements kc sa company,. papano po kong pang abroad na yong medical exam, makakapasa pa ba po?
Hello Maam. Nagagamot naman po ang pneumonia. Makakapasa po kayo kung walang findings ng pneumonia ( o kahit anong sakit) during your medical exam.
Sir makakasampa pa rin po ba ang merong hemorrhoid? salamat po.
Makakasampa sir once treated na ung hemorrhoids.
Goodafternoon sir makakapasa po ba kahit may thyroid surgery and maintenance po Ako life time although may fit to work Naman Ako na papel na galing sa hospital na pinag operahan ko?
Good day din po sir. Nakadepende po yan sa policy ng manning agency kung pasasakayin ka nila with your condition. Mahirap po kasi ang trabaho sa barko physically, mentally, and emotionally. Meron naman nakakasampa kahit may maintenance sila provided na meron silang dalang gamot enough para matapos ang kontrata nila. You can try asking the manning agencies po after you are fully healed. Or you can directly ask the medical centers for seafarers for that matter.
sir papano po kong my pneumonia makakapasa po ba s med. exam?. pero nong nag pamedical daw sya local employment man lng sya nag apply nka lagay sa baba ng result normal papano kong pang abroad na ung med. exam? makakapasa po ba?
yong company po kc nag hingi ng requirements xray normal ung result 2018 kc nag tanong ung nag ee xray para saan gagamitin? sabi sa trabaho., pero nong my request ung doc. para mag pa xray yr. 2017 pneumonia daw po kc hospital ung nag hingi…my ganun po ba talaga?pag sa local gagawin nilang normal, papano po kong abroad na
Sir pag may previous hearing problem makakasampa parin ba?
Pwede sir as long as maipasa mo ang medical exam mo.
sir goodday what if sir yung mag apply is my previous history ng TB at treated n sya makasampa kaya yan?
Yes maam as long as pasado kayo sa medical examination ng kumpanya..
Hello sir thank you for this blog post , apply po kasi ako ng PNP-SAF laking tulong din to, kaso may concern ako sir di ba nakakasama sa medical if mag stop ako ng sigarilyo 1mnth b4 the exam or 2weeks??
You’re welcome sir at magandang umaga. Mas maganda kung diretso mo na itigil ang paninigarilyo. Usually kasi pag bigla kang tumigil sa pagyoyosi, merong withdrawal symptoms na lumalabas at tumatagal from days to months depende sa tao. Maaaring mka apekto ito pag na-chempo sa medical exam mo in the short term, pero laking tulong naman in the longer term. Sabayan mo ng tamang pagkain at ehersisyo sir kung titigil ka sa pagyoyosi. Naway maka-pasa ka at good luck sa iyo, future PNP-SAF.
hi po… balak ku sana mg apply s cruise ship my chance b ku mkpasok even I have a lung scar?
Hello Jasmine. There is a test called Spirometry during medical exams where the volume and speed of air when you inhale/ exhale is measured. It basically assesses your lung function and capacity. Kelangan din mapasa ito para makasampa ka.
Sana nakatulong. Good Luck!
opo sir,my backer nmn po ako c/m, mas malaki po ba tsansa kong ndi matanggap sa situation ko po sir?on going po kc ko sa training ko ngayon sir
sir,ask lang po,pwede po ba ako mg seaman iisa nlang po ang kidney ko,under grad po ko ng BSMT,gusto ko po sana mg apply bilang messman,salamat po
Depende po yan sa company na mapasukan nyo sir at mahirap yan pero subukan mo lang. Mas maganda kung me backer ka. Iwas kana sa alak at yosi.
How about skin problems like tinea versicolor( an an)
Para sa an-an, pwede anti fungal natural remedies gaya nang garlic, aloe vera at coconut oil. Pwede rin mag apply ng ointment, lotions at anti fungal soaps.
hello sir ask ko po kung mag pa peme for cruise ship kubg fatty liver at may galbladder stone makakapasa ok ba sir ? or makakasampa sa barko?
Makakapasa at makakasampa maam kung mawala na po fatty liver at gall stones nyo.
Hi Sir, is HIV test is included in the pre employment exams. Thank you
Hello Erick. Depending on your principal, HIV test may or may not be included.
Good luck on your medical exam.
Sir, ask ko lang po if may chance pa kong makabalik ulit sa pagbabarko.Nagkaroon kasi ko ng simple fracture sa clavicle ko then nag undergo ko na ng surgery so need pang magpagaling within 5months, ask ko lang kung makakabalik pa ko sa trabaho sa pagbabarko.. thanks sir
Sir good morning. Depende po yan sa kumpanya. Meron kasi ibang kumpanya tatanggapin parin crew nila kung nagka-fracture during their work on board at depende rin sa usapan. Better ask your company po regarding sa ganitong cases.
Thanks, it is very helpful. I will try this
You’re welcome sir. Would love to know if this worked for you. Good luck!
Sir meron po bang ultra sound pag medical seafarers overseas?
Depende sa kumpanya sir. Me iba may ultra sound pero meron namang wala.