Suriname surgeons halt operations for state insurance patients

Surgeons affiliated with the Diakonessenhuis hospital have suspended surgical treatments for patients insured by the Staatsziekenfonds (SZF) as of November 3, 2026. The suspension stems from a financial dispute regarding monthly honoraria for three specialists.

Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport André Misiekaba stated that the SZF halted payments of 300,000 SRD per surgeon due to a lack of clarity regarding the procedures qualifying for the compensation. While the amount was established by previous ministry leadership, Misiekaba argued that such payments require objective criteria to ensure fairness compared to surgeons at other hospitals.

The Minister proposed a compromise of 200,000 SRD per month, but no agreement was reached. The government is currently identifying affected SZF-insured patients to seek alternative solutions for their medical care.