PARAMARIBO, Suriname - President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has described her recent visit to Colombia as a “working” one intended to deepen existing collaboration and to gather practical building blocks for a renewed healthcare system in Suriname.
President Jennifer Greeligs-Simons speaking to reporters regarding her recent visit to Colombia (CDS Photo)She told a news conference that she met with officials at the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) emphasising prevention, better coordination between Surinamese and Colombian specialists, and potential cost savings through joint medication procurement.
She told reporters that the visit was not a state visit, but a “technical and policy-related” working visit following talks in December here with hospital representatives.
Greelings-Simons said that the HIC presented data showing that prevention helps make expensive care pathways more manageable and the possibility of participating in larger purchase orders through Colombian pharmaceutical companies was also discussed.
The head of state said that a small consultation team with representatives from both the HIC and Suriname will develop concrete points in the next six to eight weeks.
Among the areas for consideration include digital specialist coordination, aftercare, and exploring charter flights to minimise long-distance commercial travel. A HIC team is expected to return to Suriname in the third week of February to make presentations to local healthcare institutions.
In March, they plan to evaluate what is feasible and what isn’t, “so it doesn’t become a never-ending process,” President Greelings-Simmons said.
During the new conference, President Greelings-Simons said that Suriname still owes approximately US$300,000 to the HIC and the head of state said the consultation team ‘will determine how payments to the hospital will be made to address the backlog.
“But the backlogs we have do not prevent us from sending people for medical treatment,” she said, noting that the healthcare situation on the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country urgently needs to be addressed.
She told reporters that she is aware that this will be costly and is willing to take steps to do so. “If I have to borrow to fix the healthcare system, I will. I will face criticism for borrowing, but you too will benefit if you or your family become ill,” Simons said.
