PEME
To access the clinic page please use the link above. This page contains a range of information for new and prospective clinics as well as the log-in area for registered PEME clinics so that they can submit the relevant data.
Aim of the PEME programme
In recognition of high crew medical costs and the lack of accountability of clinics in general for failing to discover pre-existing medical conditions, the UK P&I Club set up the Pre-Employment Medical Examination Programme in August 1996.
Under the programme, accredited clinics are held accountable to both the Club and Members for their performance. The initiative was piloted in the Philippines, as the country remains easily the largest supplier of merchant seafarers. This scheme is designed to protect shipowners from claims arising from medical conditions existing prior to employment and to provide crew with a first rate health check before going to sea.
The programme originates from the findings of the Club's Analysis of Major Claims 1995. The analysis found cases of compensation claims whose proximate causes could be attributed to medical conditions which existed prior to the employment.
The Club’s investigations found huge inconsistencies in the standards used by the clinics for pre-employment medical examinations.
To a large extent, the clinics adhered to the minimum standard required by the local authority. While conforming to the standard required for their registration, there was no accountability by the clinics to a shipowner for not identifying existing medical conditions at the pre-employment medical examination.
What concerned the Club more was the examination did not extend sufficiently to screen out pre-existing medical conditions that would impact on a shipowner's liability to compensation. The consequences to a shipowner can be drastic. The potential exposure can run to a liability of hundreds of thousands of dollars under normal contractual obligations and to millions of dollars in worst-case scenarios.
The Club has assisted its Members to overcome the problems by designing a universally accepted standard medical examination form; stringently accrediting and auditing clinics meeting exacting criteria; and implementing a system of quality control.
Why the programme is effective:
The PEME Programme has proven to be the leading loss prevention initiative within the UK Club. It is evident from the statistical findings that it has provided a system for proper accountability by the clinic on the quality of the pre-employment medical examinations. It has also led to consistency in a high examination standard to protect a shipowner from claims arising from medical conditions that should have been detected during the pre-employment examination.
Participating shipowners are provided with a proven system for managing this aspect of crew risks and thus they benefit by having a fitter and healthier crew. This programme is the most extensive and inclusive system in the industry.
According to Phil Nichols, Regional Director - "An unfit crewman will have, or is likely to cause a major incident due to illness; so it's not just medical costs and sick wages that are at stake. Consider a few avoidable interruptions: delay in journey, disruption aboard vessel and unhappy customers or passengers."
Benefits
- Most established and effective PEME Programme in the industry
- More clinics in more countries providing better coverage than any other Club
- More effective testing
- 14 successful years of experience – over 225,000 examinations completed to date
- 43 clinics in 14 countries covering Europe, Asia-Pacific and U.S.A.
- Clinics are contracted and accountable to Club to uphold high standards
- UK P&I Club PEME Team perform all administrative duties
- We accredit, audit and review every approved clinic
- We can negotiate on price with clinics due to large number of examinations
- Direct payment of clinic fees removes the need for members to verify medical bills submitted by crew
- Efficient screening reduces the risks to everyone onboard: crew members and passengers
- Competent and quality medical screening with physical and mental evaluations
- Members enjoy a reduced frequency and volume of crew illness claims
- Screening crew before embarkation to ensure best/healthiest crewman on board
- Medical Examinations entered in our online database for immediate authentication
Features
- Medical Record Database – generates statistics, analytical data on crew fitness, provides an immediate authentication for clinics, and prevents duplication of exams
- Stringent selection process for clinic approval – includes application form, visual inspection, business profile, insurance schedules, facilities, medical equipment, expertise etc…
- Clinic Network expansion results directly from member feedback/interest/demand
- Overall unfitness rate decreasing from 12% at outset to 3.4% currently
- Medical Consultation services including advice on crew health matters
- Quality control system for clinic audits
- A PEME Programme to serve the interests of all the Club’s shipowners, managers and seafarers
Fewer Claims = Low Premium/Deductible
Improved Safety Aboard Ships
Minimized operational disruption
Healthy and Fitter Crew
Cost benefit Analysis
The Club takes a close interest in the value of the PEME in terms of the cost of crew illness claims saved. Between 1999 and 2009 the average cost of Members' crew illness claims was US$12,000 per claim.
The total savings can be calculated by applying that average cost to the number of seafarers prevented from joining Members’ ships whilst medically unfit. To see more information please visit the Benefit Anlysis page.
PEME FAQ
This section contains a range of questions regarding the Club Pre-Employment Medical Examination scheme.
Some of the areas covered include the costs of a PEME examination, the scope of coverage, the benefits that gained from the scheme, audit schedules, common reasons for medical unfitness and many others. To see the full list of question and answers please click here.
The latest PEME brochure can be dowloaded by clicking the image below.
