PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons says the healthcare sector in Suriname has “deteriorated considerably” lately, outlining new initiatives to assist reverse the scenario.
“With out a wholesome inhabitants, a rustic can’t develop. Our objective is a healthcare system that not solely responds to sickness however actively protects and promotes well being,” President Geerlings-Simons stated in her first annual handle to Parliament.
“Well being will not be a privilege, however a proper,” she stated, indicating that the well being agenda for 2026 and 2027 would deal with prevention and first care, digital care and information assortment, healthcare financing, and the State Well being Insurance coverage Fund, amongst different areas.
“Our Suriname, with its small inhabitants, carries a heavy illness burden, largely attributable to non-communicable illnesses (NCDs) resembling heart problems, diabetes, hypertension, most cancers, and continual respiratory illnesses. But in addition communicable illnesses, together with HIV. Illnesses which have lengthy been underneath management elsewhere on the planet,” President Geerlings-Simons stated.
She instructed legislators that these illnesses declare essentially the most lives within the nation, inserting a heavy burden on the financial system. She reiterated that prevention will probably be central to the implementation of presidency coverage, “particularly as a result of prevention and the standard of care have deteriorated considerably through the previous time period.”
The top of state spoke of the excessive charges of suicide, home violence, and femicide within the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) nation, asserting nationwide programmes to interrupt down stigmas and broaden psychological well being care.
As well as, further investments are being made in prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care to cut back the excessive maternal and toddler mortality charges.
She stated Suriname is accelerating the implementation of digital affected person data, telehealth, and e-prescriptions. That house can also be being created for conventional and different medication, supplied it’s adequately regulated and securely built-in into the system.
The president additionally acknowledged the numerous outflow of docs and nurses, promising improved working circumstances, profession growth, and collaboration with pleasant nations to deploy overseas medical personnel briefly.
Throughout her handle, President Geerlings-Simons stated that the federal government will activate a nationwide housing fund in 2026.
“Housing, as beforehand said, will not be solely an financial sector, but additionally of nice social significance. Particularly through the interval when oil revenues start to move in, land and housing will turn out to be dearer.
“Subsequently, a particular program will probably be wanted to supply Surinamese folks with entry to housing throughout that interval as nicely,” Geerlings-Simons instructed legislators.
