‘Reckless’ and ‘unfortunate’

Leaders in the diaspora have accused health and wellness minister Dr Christopher Tufton of making “reckless” and “unfortunate” statements, negatively broadbrushing medical missions that have been coming to Jamaica over the years to make a positive contribution through services to individuals most in need.

The leaders, many of whom were in the island for last Monday’s National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House, were reacting to reports surfacing yesterday suggesting that Tufton had recently claimed that individuals on medical missions from the diaspora were causing more harm than good.

Tufton, speaking during a visit to the dental department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St James, last Thursday, reportedly suggested that dental students connected to medical missions were using the opportunity to gain experience, conducting unnecessary and damaging extractions on unwitting local patients.

The minister, according to the reports, has proposed the crafting of a policy document that would more closely monitor and authorise missions coming into the country to carry out dental procedures.

Yesterday, responding to the reports, Dr Roy Streete, head of the Organization of International Development (OID), which conducts more dental missions to Jamaica than any other overseas health mission, has demanded that Tufton identify the mission or missions about which he was speaking.

“I would hope that the minister would reach out to the offending parties and have dialogue with them rather than painting medical missions with a broad brush,” Streete told The Gleaner.

He argued that a major part of the OID’s mission is to focus on prevention and preservation rather than extraction.

Streete noted that his mission works very closely with schools on dental hygiene education among students.

“We work very closely with the dental professionals in Jamaica,” he added.

He said dental students on OID’s missions are drawn from The University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, and the Northern Caribbean University and that these students are closely supervised.

He described the minister’s statement as “unfortunate”, declaring that his group provides a vital service to the rural communities, especially among the very poor.

Streete said that it was only when necessary that extractions are done and only if the tooth cannot be saved.

He further pointed out that the OID has had a fully equipped mobile unit in Jamaica since 2006 that is used by the mission members when they visit Jamaica.

“I would hope that the minister will see fit to clarify his statement and not paint all medical missions to Jamaica with a broad brush,” he said.

In the meantime, Dr Robert Clarke referred to the minister’s statement as “disingenuous”.

“It is reckless and does nothing to foster the kind of partnership that the diaspora seeks to establish with Jamaica,” he said.

Clarke, who heads Help Jamaica Medical Mission, said the minister, by making the statement that he did, was painting all medical missions with a broad brush and that this could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Jamaica, but medical missions that come to the island to treat patients.

“It is a disappointing statement to point a finger at all medical missions instead of saying who are the offending parties,” said Clarke.

He said medical missions to Jamaica put significant time and effort into making sure that patients get the best care possible.

He pointed to non-professionals in Jamaica who are doing cosmetic dentistry because of the high price of dental service in Jamaica.

According to Clarke, where shoddy work is done by members of a health mission, the minister should speak with those involved on a one-on-one basis rather than labeling all overseas medical missions negatively.

Irwine Clarke, community leader and founder of Team Jamaica Bickle, said statements like Tufton’s make it difficult for Jamaicans in the Diaspora to build partnerships with the island.

“Jamaican health missions follow all the rules and regulations and the minister’s statement is disturbing and has far reaching ramifications,” he said.

He suggested that the minister clarify his comments and look to his ministry’s systems of determining who receives credentials to undertake medical missions.