International maritime and labor organizations continuously undertake efforts to improve the health conditions of seafarers working on ships, publishing updated occupational standards accordingly. Countries engaged in the maritime sector also align their national legislation with these international standards and undertake the necessary initiatives accordingly. Among the most significant measures implemented to address the health challenges faced by ship personnel is the advancement of remote medical assistance services.

To address health problems that may arise on board vessels underway, several countries around the world, including Türkiye, have established systems in which physicians and healthcare professionals provide remote medical assistance on a 24/7 basis. While this service is delivered through hospitals or polyclinics in some countries, others operate dedicated centers specifically designed for this purpose. In Türkiye, the service is offered free of charge and without flag discrimination by the Tele-Health Center operating under our General Directorate.

The Tele-Health Center provides international remote healthcare consultation services on a 24/7 on-call basis, via physicians, healthcare professionals, and communication officers proficient in foreign languages. In the event of an emergency medical situation, the Center coordinates medical evacuations in collaboration with the relevant institutions and organizations. All evacuation procedures are conducted under the leadership of the Tele-Health Center, with the participation of the relevant institutions and organizations to ensure timely and effective response.

The vision of the Tele-Health Center is to deliver accurate, rapid, effective, and efficient medical consultancy and search and rescue services at the international level, and to serve as a pioneering model for other Telehealth applications worldwide. When a request for medical consultation is received, the condition of the patient or injured individual is assessed by a physician. If urgent medical evacuation is deemed necessary, the evacuation process is initiated immediately. Until the arrival of medical teams—or, where applicable, until the patient is transferred to a land-based ambulance—remote medical support continues to be provided.

Additionally, the Tele-Health Center actively participates in the health coordination efforts during search and rescue operations conducted within the Turkish Search and Rescue Region, under the framework of the "Turkish Search and Rescue Regulation," and in coordination with the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center.