Minister André Misiekaba of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Arbeid (VWA) has criticised the decision by three surgeons at the Diakonessenhuis to no longer treat patients insured by the Stichting Staatsziekenfonds (SZF).
According to the minister, the situation is worrying, as patients risk being left without necessary medical care as a result. “Sometimes it seems as though we are being held hostage by certain specialists,” Misiekaba said.
According to Misiekaba, the issue has been ongoing since shortly after he took office. At the time, the SZF management decided to stop payments to three surgeons. According to Misiekaba, this involved an amount of SRD 300,000 per specialist per month.
The SZF management reportedly questioned the procedures for which these amounts were paid. Clarification and substantiation of the work performed were requested, but according to the minister, this clarity has not been provided to date.
Talks yield no solution
Misiekaba says he held several talks to resolve the conflict. He spoke with the three surgeons and their legal representatives. In addition, he consulted several times with the management of the Diakonessenhuis. “But we were unable to reach a settlement,” the minister stated.
The minister said he proposed that the three surgeons each be paid SRD 200,000 for the time being. Once they provided sufficient documentation regarding their work, the SZF could proceed with payment of the amounts actually owed, he said.
However, the surgeons involved did not agree to this proposal. As a result, no solution was reached and the specialists decided to stop treating SZF patients.
SZF patients must be accommodated elsewhere
The minister regrets that patients are now suffering the consequences of the dispute. According to him, the SZF management will again contact the specialists involved in an attempt to still reach a solution.
Meanwhile, the SZF is compiling an inventory of patients who were being treated by the three surgeons. The aim is to determine which patients must be accommodated elsewhere so that their medical care can continue.
Misiekaba announced that contact has now been made with the management of the Academisch Ziekenhuis Paramaribo (AZP). The hospital will provide support in accommodating the affected patients.
Foreign specialists as a possible solution
To address any shortages in specialist care, the minister also wants to bring foreign specialists to Suriname. He stressed that this is not his preference, because Suriname has skilled medical specialists who should be better appreciated, according to him.
Nevertheless, he considers the deployment of foreign doctors necessary when the continuity of medical services is at risk.
“But because of this issue, we will have to bring in specialists. It cannot be the case that we are sometimes almost held hostage by certain specialists,” Misiekaba stated.
The minister thus emphasises that access to medical care for SZF-insured persons must remain guaranteed, regardless of the ongoing dispute over payments to the surgeons involved.
