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Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.

Commentary - Art. 14. Annex II : Regulations concerning mixed medical commissions (see Article 112)

ARTICLE 14

. -- FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONS

TO BE PERMANENT

The six-months interval between visits mentioned here may seem very long since it concerns persons whose health and physical well-being are in principle seriously affected. It was established in the light of the experience of the Second World War, when there were millions of prisoners of war in innumerable camps, forming a tremendous task for the Mixed Medical Commissions. It is self-evident, however, that the interval of six months is a maximum; the fact that the Mixed Medical Commissions must function permanently is a clear indication that their activities must proceed virtually without interruption. If the prisoners to be examined are less numerous, the visits will be more frequent. Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent the establishment of several Mixed Medical Commissions for a single belligerent country, if the number of prisoners of war so requires.