Hospital unions proclaim umbrella organization

“Now we will try to tackle the problems within the healthcare sector together”, said Lloyd Pool at the proclamation of the labor union federation that will represent all of the state hospital unions, the FBBO. Pool who is the chairman of the union at the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) is also the chairman of the FBBO. Pool, Imro Edam from ‘s Lands Hospital, Brian Tjon Kie Sem from the Mungra Medical Center (MMC) and Carmen Brondenstein from the Psychiatric Center Suriname (PCS) signed the proclamation for collaboration on Friday. Pool explained that the federation will tackle the problems within the hospitals and in particular the recent decline in the number of nurses at the various wards. This is just one of the issues that will be discussed with the directors of the state hospitals. Another problem is the fact that many workers still have a temporary worker status. Pool explained that makes the workers uncertain about their future within the hospitals. “These problems can’t be solved with money but only through collaboration.” Last month the Health Ministry wired the rest of the SRD 100 million that it had promised to the six hospitals of the nation. Every six months, another union chairman will chair the FBBO so that each of them will get a turn at making a contribution. Pool pointed out that the FBBO will soon meet with the directors of the hospitals to inform them of the objectives of the umbrella organization. After that meeting the federation will take the first steps towards addressing the problems within the healthcare sector.