No Cuban doctors despite shortage

Although there is a shortage of workers in the nation’s hospitals and medical facilities, the government will not consider bringing Cuban doctors back to Suriname. “We do not need help in the first line but in the second line of the healthcare sector. The previous government hired a huge number of Cuban doctors but that they had little to no experience and the language was also a huge barrier,” said Health Minister Amar Ramadhin. He explained that the Cuban doctors who have already returned to Cuba could not be deployed because they still had to receive additional training. “Before they could learn what had to be done and understand the language, it was already too late. We need help now in the medical sector. The government has nothing against the Cuban doctors because there are 52 at the RGD, MZ and the hospitals and they are doing an excellent job. We are content with their work,” said the minister. Surinamese officials are reportedly eying the Netherlands for help in the medical sector. “The Dutch people understand the language already and most of them are from the diaspora community so they will feel at home fast. The people from the Netherlands also have the necessary experience and can therefore start work immediately. These people also have a good network which we can tap into to obtain emergency medicines and medical supplies,” said Minister Ramadhin.