Guyana’s recent pact with Suriname on health services would see cancer patients getting radioactive therapy not available here and Surinamese coming here for kidney transplants, Minister of Health Dr.Frank Anthony says.
“We also looked at how we can both benefit from the provision of medical services. There are some [services] that are offered by Suriname that we don’t have, and vice versa. We are doing kidney transplants and that is not done there. Suriname offers some radiotherapy that we don’t have and in a way we can complement each other,” Anthony told Stabroek News.
“The Parties agree to facilitate the provision of specialized care in areas of cardiac surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention, ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery, vascular diagnostics and vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, nephrology, oncology and oncological surgery, radiotherapy (with a focus on breast cancer), diagnostic procedures: PCR testing for COVID-19, CT scan, MRI, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and urology. The Parties, upon review, may jointly add new areas of collaboration,” the agreement states.
The financial arrangement to cover expenses for the cooperative activities undertaken within the framework of the agreement “shall be mutually decided by the Parties on a case-by-case basis subject to the availability of funds and resources”.
Last week Thursday, during a four-day visit by the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the two countries signed a five-year agreement on the establishment of services in the field of health care.
“RECOGNIZING the potential for exchanges in the health sector between the two countries and the need to tap the capabilities and opportunities in a focused and comprehensive manner; AWARE of the usefulness of regular consultations and exchanges between the two countries, at different levels, on bilateral relations and international matters of common interest; CONFIRMING that they adhere to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter; (the two countries) HAVE agreed to enter into this Agreement in accordance with Article III of the “Formation Agreement for the Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform between the Republic of Suriname and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana…,” the document states.
Article 1, which focuses on the goal of the agreement, states that the agreement “shall set forth the terms and conditions under which the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Suriname and the Ministry of Health of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana shall cooperate to deepen and strengthen strategic collaboration, provide effective capacity-building for health care personnel and specialty treatments for patients, as well as develop joint programmes especially in professional health care and public health services, disease control, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, pharmaceutical services and research.”
Article 2 outlines areas of participation and stated that the parties shall cooperate, within the context of their respective mandates, policies and resources and instruments, to provide capacity building for health care personnel through student exchanges and specialized training programmes and facilitation to access routine training programmes of paramedics.
“It is a document we have been working on. It allows for cooperation between both countries for training and there are common concerns at the border; for example vector control, looking at different types of infectious diseases,” Anthony said.
“As per training, they have some training programmes we can benefit from and they are looking at us to see where they can benefit. Over the next two years or so you would see different things unfold,” he added.
In this area, the document states that the parties “agree to advance cooperation in the prevention of infectious diseases as well as in the area of pharmaceuticals. The Ministry of Health of Guyana would explore speciality training of nurses at the Technical Institute of Suriname and partnering with hospitals. The Parties shall explore areas of collaboration in HIV prevention, care and treatment to strengthen access to HIV services and leave no one behind in both nations’ missions towards the elimination of HIV/ AIDS. The Parties agree to assist each other with not easily replenished drugs due to transport delays and supplier disruptions.”
Hesitancy
And recognizing that both governments are facing a challenge due to the hesitancy of persons on taking COVID-19 vaccines, Anthony said that the agreement also allows for the two countries to synchronize their efforts to ensure their populations can get vaccinated as quickly as possible.
“The Parties agree to collaborate in public health, developing cross-border programmes for infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, HIV, Viral hepatitis, STI’s, TBC and programs for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases,” the agreement reads.
Further, it adds, “With regard to COVID-19, parties will cooperate specifically in cross border diagnostics COVID- 19(for border population) Contact tracing and quarantine (for border population) Sharing risk communication strategy in COVID-19 awareness and COVID-19 awareness. Cooperating and sharing experiences in the COVID -19 vaccination campaign. The Parties agree to collaborate to provide health care for migrant and mobile populations. The Parties also agree to explore the Application of Reliance principle for medicines registered in Suriname. The Parties also agree to promote research and development in the areas of health.”
As per their obligations, the document states that each side will make the necessary arrangements to ensure satisfactory implementation of the Agreement.
Georgetown and Paramaribo have to ensure they facilitate the collaboration between the respective organizations providing services as outlined in the document and they must also have contact persons within their respective organizations who “shall communicate and exchange information and bring to each other’s attention general information of common interest and areas of concern to all Parties”.
Within one month of the entry into force of the agreement, a Joint Commission will be established and, after that, as often as necessary. Both sides have to commit that at least once a year, the Joint Commission shall meet to agree on activities and potential joint projects for the following 12 months or update existing plans.
“No provision of this Agreement shall be construed as interfering in any way with the respective decision making processes of the Ministry of Health of Guyana or the Ministry of Health of Suriname with regard to their respective affairs and operations,” the document states.
The Parties shall evaluate the implementation of what has been agreed in the Agreement after a period of six months from the date of its signing. Both Parties shall conduct regular evaluations, with the same interval, and make a formal record of the results.
Where there are claims or disputes, the agreement says that any difficulties related to the operations of the Guyanese or Surinamese professionals and technicians during the provision of the agreed services should be amicably and directly addressed by both sides.
“All possible disputes concerning the interpretation and/or implementation of this Agreement shall be amicably resolved by both Parties. If no agreement is reached between them, they shall submit the disputes to the highest authority of each Party to resolve the issue or seek to achieve this through diplomatic channels,” the document states.
