Surinam’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Amar Ramadhin, recently spoke to the press about a range of health systems’ challenges in the country, including health financing, non-communicable diseases and human resources for health.
On the 30th of April 2025, the Hon. Amar Ramadhin, Surinam’s Minister of Health, was interviewed by the press. The Minister points out that Suriname has maintained a social healthcare system since its independence in 1975, although health insurance legislation was passed in 2014. Those without health insurance rely on the social healthcare system financed by the public budget. It is expected that non communicable diseases will become an increasing burden along with the costs of treating them.
Despite a large public healthcare debt, the government of Suriname continues to prioritize basic healthcare in the country. An additional challenge to providing quality universal health coverage is the migration of healthcare professionals. This is not only a brain drain, but a cost born by the country as public budgets have subsidized medical and nursing education in Suriname.
