In a landmark healthcare reform, Suriname’s Minister of Public Health, André Misiekaba, has announced the complete elimination of co-payments for surgeries and medications covered under the state insurance scheme. The policy shift, declared on December 13th during the opening of the Medhulp General Practitioners Emergency Post, aims to provide immediate financial relief to thousands of citizens.
The minister revealed that since assuming office, he has been confronted with numerous complaints from patients who faced exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses despite being insured with the State Health Fund (SZF). Particularly at the Academic Hospital, these supplemental payments reached staggering amounts—up to SRD 60,000 per surgery—rendering essential medical care unaffordable for many.
A recent SZF directive now prohibits hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies from directly billing patients for treatments and medicines included in the SZF formulary. Instead, all invoices must be submitted directly to SZF for processing. When necessary, SZF will collaborate with health insurer SOSAVO to determine cost coverage parameters, ensuring patients are shielded from unexpected financial burdens.
“If you are insured with SZF and require surgery, you will no longer receive a bill. It goes directly to SZF. Citizens need not worry about co-payments anymore,” Minister Misiekaba stated emphatically.
Additionally, the ministry will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and update of the national drug formulary in January. Frequently prescribed medications for oncology and diabetes patients—increasingly used in recent years—will be incorporated into the formulary to guarantee their structural availability at SZF pharmacies.
The minister emphasized that healthcare providers must strictly adhere to their contractual agreements with SZF. For medicines within the formulary, no supplemental payments may be requested. Only when a physician consciously prescribes an alternative treatment outside the formulary might a limited co-payment apply.
These measures represent a significant stride toward more accessible and affordable healthcare in Suriname. Further improvements will be implemented phasedly, with citizens expected to experience tangible relief in their daily healthcare interactions.