Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson says he is moving to a more structured relationship with overseas health Missions. This, in a bid to assist in the development of health sector programmes.

Dr. Ferguson was speaking today during a visit from a team of Nursing Education Administrators and final year nursing students from Barry University in the United States.

“I will have discussions about having a structured relationship with overseas Missions. Their involvement saves the country millions each year but we could better allocate resources if the process was more organized,” he said.

The Ministry of Health through its International Cooperation in Health Unit facilitates close to 200 overseas volunteer medical missions to Jamaica each year. The services offered vary from general care such as diabetes and hypertension checks to more specialized care such as spinal and cardiac surgeries.

In 2012, there were 172 medical missions to Jamaica, saving the Jamaican Government approximately US$393,000 specifically as it related to their contribution of pharmaceuticals, supplies and equipment to the public health sector.

The team from Barry University expressed satisfaction with the high level of competence of nurses as well as the utilization of primary health care services. The group pointed out that Jamaica’s primary health care system was superior to what obtains in the United States.

Dr. Ferguson indicated that an exchange of ideas and practices would be beneficial to our health care workers through programmes to facilitate training and on the job experience in other jurisdictions.

“We need to develop exchange programmes in a more fulsome way with our students and professionals. I am trying to expand the twinning of hospitals and universities including those overseas so that we can share knowledge and experience essential to building the public health sector.”

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Contact: Stephanie Shaw Smith

Public Relations & Communication Unit Tel: 967-1561

You can view this press release and other information on our website at www.moh.gov.jm