DNA member Raghoenandan is calling on the government to make medical specialists permanently available at the Mungra Medisch Centrum (MMC) in Nickerie. According to the parliamentarian, patients sometimes have to wait months for specialised care or travel to Paramaribo for necessary examinations and treatment.
In a statement dated 7 October, Raghoenandan expressed concerns about the availability of, among others, neurologists, cardiologists and nephrologists. According to reports he has received, patients are largely dependent on specialists who periodically visit the district. Several months may sometimes pass between those visits, causing delays in consultations, examinations and follow-up treatment.
“It is unacceptable that patients in Nickerie have to wait months for a consultation with a specialist while they urgently need medical supervision. Health problems do not adhere to the schedule of a commuting doctor. A structural solution must therefore be found,” Raghoenandan states.
According to the DNA member, patients with heart problems, kidney diseases and neurological conditions in particular require regular check-ups and timely treatment. The deployment of commuting specialists, he says, offers only a partial solution to the healthcare needs in the district.
Travelling to Paramaribo
When the required care is not available in Nickerie in time, patients must turn to Paramaribo, according to Raghoenandan. This entails transport costs and sometimes accommodation costs as well. This is a heavy burden, he says, particularly for elderly people, people with disabilities, chronically ill people and financially vulnerable families.
Family members are also affected. They regularly have to take time off work or other obligations to accompany patients.
“A resident of Nickerie has the same need for specialised medical care as a resident of Paramaribo. It should not be the case that people have to incur additional costs and travel long distances to receive the necessary treatment because of where they live,” Raghoenandan said.
Concrete plan for the MMC
The parliamentarian is asking the Ministry of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Arbeid (Public Health, Welfare and Labour) for clarity on the shortage and a concrete plan to attach more permanent specialists to the MMC. Neurology, cardiology and nephrology should receive particular attention. In addition, he wants staffing needs in other specialisms to be examined.
According to Raghoenandan, a structural solution also requires investment in medical equipment, support staff and good working conditions. These facilities must make it more attractive for specialists to establish themselves in Nickerie or work there for longer periods.
He also advocates for a clear referral policy for patients who must be treated outside the district. According to him, this should take into account both medical urgency and the patient’s financial means.
In his appeal, Raghoenandan refers to Article 36 of the Constitution and emphasises that the government must ensure a balanced distribution of medical facilities and qualified personnel across the districts.
“The people of Nickerie must not be structurally disadvantaged when it comes to access to specialised medical care,” he states. The DNA member is urging swift measures to sustainably improve access to specialist care in the district.
