HEALTH AND WELFARE Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has sought to clarify his recent statement that overseas medical missions were doing more harm than good, pointing out that he was talking specifically about some dental teams.
“The statement I made to recognize Oral Health Month was focusing only on oral health and not on medical missions in general. I was pointing out that while partnerships are good and we’ve had some very good partnerships with overseas missions – I’m very big on that and it’s worked well in many cases – there are times when missions come, sometimes registered, sometimes unregistered, especially when they are unregistered accompanied by dental students, some get experience and focus exclusively or mainly on extractions,” he said. Gleaner.
The minister said that in recent cases sometimes some damage is done.
The negative sides of this approach focusing on extraction are, one, it deprives the patient of teeth which are important for good oral health as well as general health related to food consumption; two, it deprives them from an economic perspective, because you don’t see many people without front teeth attractive to the labor market, and thirdly, it deprives them from a social perspective,” he said.
All missions must be registered
Tufton said he needs all missions to be registered when they visit Jamaica, and further, the government needs to look more at a holistic approach to oral health.
He said he has asked the head of the ministry’s oral health department to look at a protocol to ensure consistency across the board.
“This concern does not apply to all medical and dental missions. There are many who do extremely good and good work and we appreciate and accommodate, but the main objective is very critical,” he said.
However, diaspora leaders have not accepted the minister’s clarification, noting that the initial statement as reported broadly describes all medical missions.
Dr Roy Streete, head of Overseas International Development (OID), said the minister’s clarification removes how the general public can now come to see medical missions.
“Medical missions involve some dental health, and many people may be skeptical about interacting with medical missions because of what was initially said,” he said.
OID, which primarily conducts dental missions in Jamaica, said the initial statement puts all missions in the same boat.
He emphasized that anyone who does dental work can be affected.
Streete believes the minister would have been better served if he had spoken to the offending missions.
Dr Robert Clarke, head of the Jamaica Aid Medical Mission, said he could not accept the clarification because it still leaves a bad impression on medical missions.
“He should not have put all the missions in the same boat. He needs to clarify his position more fully,” Clarke said.
Irwine Clare, head of Team Jamaica Bickle, said that while he understands what the minister is alluding to, it is still unfortunate that he made such a sweeping statement about medical missions.
“If the ministry knows who the unregistered groups are, then it is up to the ministry to stop them. All medical missions from the northeast must pass a rigorous check to carry out their missions, so they should not be lumped in with unregistered groups,” he said.
Dr Karren Dunkley, former member of the North East Jamaica Diaspora Council, said it is imperative to highlight the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the many medical missions visiting Jamaica.
“Contrary to the narrative presented, these missions are often staffed by qualified and credentialed professionals, not students seeking internships. The allusion to students performing extracts purely for experience is a significant phenomenon and not representative of the wider landscape of the medical mission,” Dunkley said.
“It is potentially unwise to generalize and diminish the well-intentioned and meticulously organized efforts of these missions based on isolated incidents. The minister must be careful about casting a shadow over these selfless efforts as such sweeping generalizations can inadvertently discourage genuine help and damage the reputation of dedicated professionals,” she said.
Diaspora leaders point to the many partnerships they have undertaken with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to benefit Jamaica, including the Adopt-a-Clinic program, as evidence of their support for the country.
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