A group of medical students here have beaten out four other countries in a bid to host an international conference that will attract over 600 such students to the island.

The Jamaica Medical Students Association’s (JAMSA), proposal to host the General Assembly of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA), was chosen over other countries such as Canada, Macedonia, Taiwan and Bulgaria. Jamaica is the first country in the Caribbean to host this assembly.

Now in its 57th year, the assembly will be held at the Jamaica Grande Ocho Rios Resort and Spa over the course of about two weeks in August 2008.

“JAMSA’s objective is to. expand the positive world image of Jamaica beyond music and sports to include that of an accomplished medical and educational destination,” Stephan Hemmings, co-chair of the organising committee said yesterday.

“This is an opportunity to branch off into the world of medicine by taking it beyond the shores of Jamaica,” he added.

Hemmings was speaking during a presentation to key stakeholders of the assembly at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Kingston.

JAMSA is the national member group for the IFMSA. The association, according to Hemmings, is the largest student organisation worldwide and comprises 103 members from 97 countries on six continents. It represents close to two million medical students worldwide.

Hemmings said JAMSA has budgeted US$600,000 to host 900 delegates and has already received funding from the UWI and Scotia Bank.

Meantime, Kevin Henry, president of JAMSA, said they have also received endorsements from the government and tourism interests.