United Nations Examining Physicians (UNEPs) 2024

The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a center for harmonizing the actions of governments. It is the world’s largest international organization. The UN is headquartered in New York City (in the United States, but with certain extraterritorial privileges), and the organization has other offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague, where the International Court of Justice is headquartered.

The UN was established after World War II to prevent future world wars and succeeded the League of Nations, which was characterized as ineffective. On 25 April 1945, 50 nations met in San Francisco, California for a conference and started drafting the UN Charter, which was adopted on 25 June 1945. The charter took effect on 24 October 1945, when the UN began operations. The organization’s objectives, as defined by its charter, include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; as of 2023, it has 193 – almost all of the world’s sovereign states.

The organization’s mission to preserve world peace was complicated in its early decades due in part to Cold War tensions that existed between the United States and Soviet Union and their respective allies. Its mission has included the provision of primarily unarmed military observers and lightly armed troops charged with primarily monitoring, reporting, and confidence-building roles. UN membership grew significantly following widespread decolonization in the 1960s. Since then, 80 former colonies have gained independence, including 11 trust territories that had been monitored by the Trusteeship Council. By the 1970s, the UN’s budget for economic and social development programs vastly exceeded its spending on peacekeeping. After the end of the Cold War in 1991, the UN shifted and expanded its field operations, undertaking a wide variety of complex tasks.

The United Nations in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean invites qualified medical professionals to apply for the position of United Nations Examining Physician (UNEP). UNEPs play a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of UN personnel and their dependents.

Role Description: United Nations Examining Physicians (UNEPs) are responsible for performing pre-employment and periodic medical examinations for UN personnel. They provide 24/7 emergency coverage, coordinate medical evacuations when necessary, and accompany patients when required. Additionally, they offer advice to heads of agencies on medical facilities and evacuation needs.

Duties and Responsibilities: The primary responsibilities of a United Nations Examining Physician include:

1. Performing pre-employment medical examinations, including physical inspections and mandatory investigations.
2. We are conducting periodic medical examinations every two years for staff members.
3. Conducting exit medical examinations for departing staff members.
4. Providing assistance and recommendations for medical evacuations when required.