Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica — Pharmacy Council of Jamaica
PCJ · Jamaica · latin america
Jamaica's Pharmacy Council (statutory regulator of pharmacy practice, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness) — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH; medicinal leeches fall under the general national medical device framework as appropriate.
Regulatory Profile
- Agency type
- national regulator
- Region
- latin america
- Country
- Jamaica
- Leech status
- unregulated
- Last ASH review
- 2026-05-26
- Website
- https://www.moh.gov.jm
Relevant Regulation Codes
- Jamaican Food and Drugs Act
- Pharmacy Act of Jamaica
- Jamaican national medical device regulatory framework
Prescriber Requirements
- Medical Council of Jamaica–registered physician — order required for any biomedical device application
- Allied health professional application under physician supervision per institutional protocol
Supply Chain & GMP
Ministry of Health and Wellness registration as applicable; English-language labelling. Standard cold-chain conditions.
Import/Export Rules
Ministry of Health and Wellness import authorisation; Veterinary Services Division clearance for live invertebrates; CITES Appendix II paperwork for Hirudo medicinalis / verbana.
Reimbursement Context
Not covered under public insurance schemes for leech therapy specifically.
ASH Editorial Notes
Leech-specific pathway not independently verified by ASH; falls under general medical device / traditional medicine framework as appropriate. Caribbean states often share elements of regulatory practice via CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) and CARICOM harmonisation; the exact mechanism for live-organism medical devices has not been independently mapped by ASH. Region assigned as latin-america for coverage purposes pending Caribbean sub-region implementation.
Related Jurisdictions
COFEPRIS — Mexico
Mexico's federal health-risk authority — leech therapy regulated as a medical device under General Health Law, with traditional-medicine carve-outs at state level.
ANVISA — Brazil
Brazil's national health-surveillance agency — leech therapy regulated as a medical device with parallel coverage under the SUS Practices Integrativas e Complementares (PICS) policy.
INVIMA — Colombia
Colombia's national medicines and devices surveillance agency — leech therapy regulated as a medical device under Decreto 4725/2005 with TM/CAM oversight by the Ministerio de Salud.
DIGEMID — Peru
Peru's medicines, supplies and drugs directorate — leech therapy supervised under Ley General de Salud and complementary-medicine framework, with DIRESA-level enforcement.