Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, ignited substantial outrage from members of the Jamaican diaspora when he recently suggested that overseas medical missions to the country could be doing more harm than good, especially in relation to dental care for citizens.
Members of the overseas community, many of whom organise or participate in the missions, expressed the view that their contributions were being undervalued or even disparaged.
He added that he fully recognised the invaluable contributions of the majority of medical missions that adhere to the highest standards of care.
“The statement I made to recognise Oral Health Month, I was focusing only on oral health, and not medical missions generally,” Tufton told reporters, referencing his address during a visit to the dental department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital to recognise Oral Health Month, on October 12.
“… There are cases where missions come in, sometimes registered, sometimes unregistered, particularly when they are unregistered, accompanied by dental students, (with) some getting experience and focusing exclusively or primarily on extractions,” he explained.
The minister maintained that in the latter cases, sometimes some harm is being done, despite leaders in the diaspora not agreeing wholeheartedly with the stance.
Overseas medical missions have been a critical part of Jamaica’s healthcare system for years. These missions, often staffed by professionals from the Jamaican diaspora, provide much-needed healthcare services, including dental care, to communities that might not otherwise have easy access to, or financial ability to access such services.
On October 12, however, Tufton argued that some dental teams, in their well-intended efforts, may inadvertently cause harm by not providing consistent follow-up care after damaging dental extractions, thereby leaving patients vulnerable to complications.
“We want to put a pause or reduce that. For starters, it doesn’t feel right or look right, because it can be interpreted as them (the missions) coming in to take advantage of our population by practising to extract teeth and then leaving these Jamaicans in a state where they now have other issues,” said Tufton at the event.
According to the minister, some residents who attend such free health clinics hosted by the visiting missions, end up suffering from additional or worse oral health challenges.
“If (extraction) is all you are coming to do, and bringing dental students who may be competent to do it, but are just coming to fulfil hours and practise, we (the Jamaican Government) are going to be less welcoming…, because what we want is a proper oral health programme,” declared Tufton then.
Consequently, he proposed that he will be directing health officials to craft a policy document that would effectively monitor and authorise missions visiting the country to conduct dental procedures.
In a quick response, diaspora leaders described Tufton’s remarks on the work of some visiting medical missions as “reckless” and “unfortunate”, among other things.
File photo of dental service.
Dr Roy Streete, head of the Organisation of International Development (OID), which conducts the majority of dental missions to Jamaica, called on Tufton to identify the medical missions he was referencing.
“I would hope that the minister will see (it) fit to clarity his statement and not paint all medical missions to Jamaica with a broad a brush,” Streete told reporters earlier this month.
He said his missions’ focus is on prevention and preservation of the tooth, rather than extraction of it.
“We work very closely with dental professionals in Jamaica,” he stressed, adding that the mission also partners with schools to promote proper dental hygiene.
In relation to Tufton’s allegations about dental students participating in the work on the missions, Streete said students on the OID’s mission who are closely supervised, attend the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTech) and Northern Caribbean University (NCU).
He maintained too, that his group provides critical services to rural communities, especially the most vulnerable who likely cannot afford dental care.
Dr Robert Clarke, who heads Help Jamaica Medical Mission, said Tufton’s remarks were “reckless and does nothing to foster the kind of partnership that the diaspora seeks to establish with Jamaica.”
He said in a media interview that, “It is a disappointing statement to point a finger at all medical missions, instead of saying who are the offending parties.”
Former Northeast Jamaica Diaspora Council member, Dr Karen Dunkley, noted that contrary to the perspective presented by Tufton, “these (medical) missions are frequently staffed by qualified and credentialed professionals, not students seeking (to) practise”.
She elaborated that, “The allusion to students conducting extractions for mere experience is a significant outlier, and (is) not representative of the broader medical mission landscape.”
And founder of Team Jamaica Bickle, another diaspora group, Irwine Clare, asserted in a newspaper interview that health missions, for the most part, follow all the rules and regulations.
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“The minister’s statement is disturbing and has far-reaching ramifications,” he commented.
Like the two male medical doctors, Clarke urged Tufton to clarify his remarks and better determine who gains the necessary credentials to undertake medical missions in the country.
The health minister stressed that his intention was not to discredit the visiting dental missions, but to open dialogue about how care can be improved and standardised.
“I do plan to have a discussion or dialogue with them because I don’t want the impression to be given that we’re against partnership.
“I’ve been one of the biggest advocates of partnership in all spheres as it relates to public health, so I don’t want that impression to be given,” the minister said.
However, he admitted that without sufficient evidence, he could not identify, specifically, the oral health missions which have been focusing on extraction of teeth, rather than preservation.
“Of course we do that from time to time (identity the health missions).
“When we have those persons in our grasp, we take the necessary action, and action has been taken in the past,” Tufton argued.
He elaborated that, “… Part of discussion in the public around these issues is also for the buyer to beware.
“It’s also public education among the consumers, the public who… without enquiring, may see a service being offered and take advantage of it to their detriment,” Tufton posited.
He maintained that some oral health missions have entered the island under the radar, focusing on extractions. But he still did not identify the violating groups.
Generally, the minister said it is easy for medical missions to operate in Jamaica, hence the need for some policy to properly authorise their trips to the island.
