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Volunteer Medical Mission

The Ministry of Health is responsible for ensuring that public health services are adequate, safe and that they are delivered effectively and efficiently in accordance with prescribed standards and regulations. To this end, Volunteer Medical Missions have the potential to contribute to attaining the determined sustainable goals and building the capacity of the Public Health System in Jamaica; and as such, are welcomed for consideration.

 

Broadly speaking, Volunteer Medical Missions are classified according to their durational level of commitment. These different level of commitment are described as follows:

 

 

  • Annual overseas medical missions – These missions are typically unsolicited and provided by small and medium sized international nonprofit organizations driven by a desire to provide on regular or recurring basis each year a predetermined select or suite of health services. The focal point of the conduct of these missions are directly in communities island-wide. They constitute the vast majority of the experience in Jamaica.

 

  • One-time or infrequent medical missions – These missions are typically solicited by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and provided by large international nonprofit organizations or institutional health facilities to provide targeted and select health services to address specific health need. Project Code care implemented in 2023 to assist in clearing the Post-Covid backlog of surgery is the first structured programme implemented to advance this type of mission.

 

  • Permanent In-country medical missions – These missions are solicited by the Ministry of health and Wellness and provided by local organizations to advance and support the capacity building of the Public Helath System of Jamaica. Health Programme efforts that utilize this type of mission may also occasionally augment efforts by leveraging the other types of medical missions.

Guidelines for Overseas Visiting Medical Missions

  • Step 1: Explore Opportunity for a Medical Mission

    For first-time mission contact the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation to discuss key elements to guide decision making of the prospective mission to include:

  • Step 2: Establish a Local Contact/Sponsor in Jamaica

    Once a determination and decision is made to conduct a mission a local contact/sponsor should be established. The name, address, telephone, email and telephone number of the contact peson should be submitted to the National Healthcare Enhamcement Foundation. This person will serve as the key local liaison to conduct affairs with all relevant bodies during the application process to include coordination, provision of information and delivery of documents to requisite agencies.

  • Step 3: Send Letter of Intent to Conduct Mission

    This letter introducing the Mission team/organization should be sent 10 weeks ahead of the planned starte date of the Mission. The letter should be addressed to the Foundation and include the informtion as shown below:

  • Step 4: Granting of Provisional Approval

    Upon the conduct of a preliminary review and consultation with the relevant Medical Officer of Health a disapproval or provisional approval will be granted to the Mission team. Among the review and evaluation factors are the following:

  • Step 5: Complete and Send Application Forms and Required Documents

    Once provisional approval is granted advisment will be given to complete and send application form(s) and all relevant documents to support advancing the application, review and credentialing process. Click on the below link for "Short Term Volunteer Requirements" to see required application form(s), documents and fees.

    The application(s) should be sent to the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation for review and processing eight (8) weeks in advance of the planned mission start date.

  • Step 6: Complete and Send Listing of Pharmaceuticals (If drugs will be administered in the conduct of mission and/or donated)

    All pharmaceuticals coming into the country should bear a one (1) year expiry date from date of arrival. To facilitate the evaluation and approval of pharmaceuticals that will be used in the conduct of a Medical Mission a listing of the pharmaceuticals must be completed detailing the following:

    The listing of pharmaceuticals should be sent to the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation for review and processing eight (8) weeks in advance of the planned mission start date.

  • Step 7: Processing of Applications

    Applications should be submitted to the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation for review and processing eight weeks (8) in advance of the planned mission start date. The Foundation will facilitate the requisite coordination between key stakeholders:

  • Step 8: Approval by the Medical Council(s)

    Once in receipt of a complete application package the Medical Council(s) will review and approve submissions to ensure the following key requirements are met:

  • Step 9: Conduct of Medical Mission

    With letter of approval in hand or permit from the respective Councils the Misison Team is ready to conduct their mission. "

  • Step 10: Submit Mission Report

    At the conclusion of the mission a report of the activities of the mission is to be submitted within seven (7) days after the departure of the team. Please note that failure to comply will result in automatic non-approval for future mission.

To make a donation to NHEF, please contact Courtney Cephas at courtney.cephas@moh.gov.jm or 876 413-0614 or submit your request below.

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