Suriname

This project represents one of the most significant achievements in CEDI Europe’s history. In December 2020, following a tendering process that lasted over a year, CEDI Europe signed a contract with the Ministry of Health of Suriname. This project, valued at over USD 7 million, involved the procurement of cutting-edge medical equipment and hospital furniture for a new operating room (OR) complex with six operating rooms, an intensive care unit (ICU) and a central sterilization unit (CSU) at the Academic Hospital in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The project’s scope included the supply, installation, and commissioning of medical equipment and hospital furniture, as well as training of end-users. For the new operating room complex (OR), CEDI Europe supplied advanced equipment such as anesthesia machines, mobile x-ray systems, ultrasound machines, surgical microscopes, and video equipment carts. The intensive care unit (ICU) was equipped with infusion warming systems, patient monitors, ventilators, and defibrillators, amongst others. In the OR and ICU complex, having reliable, advanced equipment is crucial. At the Academic Hospital in Paramaribo, more than 10.000 operations are handled on a yearly basis. Through this project, CEDI Europe has ensured that these vital hospital areas are now equipped with the latest technology, which supports life-saving procedures and patient care. Rigorous safety checks and quality assurance tests are conducted regularly by CEDI Europe’s local agent, ensuring compliance with all regulatory standards.

For the central sterilization unit (CSU), CEDI Europe provided essential equipment ranging from instrument loading trolleys and storage racks to steam sterilizers, low temperature sterilizers, and water treatment plans. In the realm of healthcare, ensuring the CSU is equipped with state-of-the-art technology is crucial for maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and patient safety. The successful installation not only involved choosing the most advanced and suitable sterilization equipment, but also required detailed assessments of the physical space beforehand to seamlessly integrate the new equipment with existing hospital systems and to ensure smooth operations, including workflow optimization and adequate access and mobility. In collaboration with the manufacturer, multiple installation lay-out plans were developed during the tender phase which were finetuned and tailored to the specific needs of the hospital during the contract phase.

Funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Surinamese government, this initiative is a cornerstone of the Health System Strengthening Program (HSSP) by the Ministry of Health in Suriname. In 2019, as part of the same program, CEDI Europe, through its partner, supplied medical equipment and furniture for the rehabilitation of the hospital’s ward. This included infusion and syringe pumps, vital signs monitors, electrical hospital beds, trolleys, and other essential items.

What is the Health System Strengthening Program (HSSP)?

In 2014, the Surinamese government signed a collaborative agreement with the IDB and OFID. Through the Health System Strengthening Program (HSSP), the Surinamese government aims to revitalize Suriname’s healthcare sector, addressing critical needs of the Surinamese population and striving to fulfill the National Health Sector Plan. The Program focuses on mitigating ongoing challenges of the vulnerable healthcare system, such as reducing medical staff shortages and enhancing healthcare delivery.

The Academic Hospital Paramaribo is the main hospital in Suriname and the only hospital that can provide top-tier clinical care in a multidisciplinary setting. As a teaching hospital, the Academic Hospital Paramaribo combines the provision of patient care with medical education and research, affiliating with universities to play a crucial role in educating future healthcare professionals and advancing medical knowledge. With its research focus and advanced facilities, the hospital can offer specialized and complex care that may not be available in other hospitals in Suriname, significantly contributing to high-quality patient care.

When it comes to medical care, the ties between Suriname and The Netherlands are very strong; not only because of language and history, but also because of personal networks and comparable educational curricula. Many Surinamese medical specialists have been educated in The Netherlands due to the lack of such programs in Suriname. The Academic Hospital Paramaribo collaborates with various universities in The Netherlands. In addition, medical specialists from The Netherlands regularly undertake missions to Suriname to support the hospital, with the aim to exchange knowledge and skills, ultimately improving the quality of care provided.

Delivery, installation and training

Despite the logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing construction of the new hospital wing, CEDI Europe successfully procured and shipped all items to Suriname within the agreed delivery time. The construction, managed by a dedicated construction company, ran concurrently with the procurement phase of our project. Although the pandemic caused significant delays in the construction due to a global shortage of raw materials, CEDI Europe effectively managed to ship items from various parts of the world via sea and air to Paramaribo. Upon arrival, the equipment was temporarily stored in a warehouse in Paramaribo at the request of the contracting authority. Once the hospital was ready to receive the equipment, it was seamlessly transported to the hospital.

The complex execution of this project was made possible through the unwavering support of CEDI Europe’s local agent, BioMedical Systems, with whom CEDI Europe has collaborated across the region for nearly a decade. The project’s complexity demanded CEDI Europe’s involvement at every stage of the implementation, extending beyond the delivery of equipment. Regular meetings with the construction team and Ministry of Health were conducted to assess and ensure the hospital’s readiness for installation. CEDI Europe had to adhere to a tight timeline, where coordination, alignment and communication among different parties, including the manufacturers, shipping agencies, the customer, and its local agent, were crucial. After more than two years of diligent effort, all supplied equipment was successfully installed, and the hospital staff were trained in its use and basic maintenance. CEDI Europe’s partner BioMedical Systems also remains involved afterwards to provide ongoing maintenance support for the equipment.

Opening ceremonies
The successful commissioning of the equipment for the new start-of-the-art ICU, operating rooms and CSU was celebrated with formal opening ceremonies in December 2022 and October 2023. The events, attended by President Santokhi and the Minister of Health, marked a significant leap towards international healthcare standards for Suriname. The ceremonies received widespread coverage from local newspapers and national television, highlighting the transformative impact of this project.