The academic alliance between the Rotterdam Eye Hospital (OZR) and the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since its inception in 2005, this strategic collaboration has dramatically professionalized ophthalmic care in Suriname. Through a continuous flow of knowledge exchange and joint specialist training, the Suriname Eye Center has become a regional knowledge and expertise center.
Thanks to these intensive training programs, ten Surinamese ophthalmologists have now completed part of their training in Rotterdam. Currently, two PhD students are completing their fellowship in the OZR, while two other specialists in Paramaribo are undergoing clinical deepening. These reciprocal learning paths enable complex interventions from advanced retinal surgery to innovative glaucoma treatments and corneal transplants to be performed in Suriname without foreign referral.
One of the most visible milestones is the realization of a state-of-the-art day treatment center in Paramaribo. Modern protocols and efficient workflows have drastically reduced waiting times and patient care is provided according to international standards. Increasingly, patients from surrounding countries also travel to the Suriname Eye Center for high-quality eye care.
Dr. Jerrel Pawiroredjo has taken ophthalmic care in Suriname to a new level. With his unparalleled surgical precision and keen clinical insight, he performs complex retinal surgery, glaucoma treatments and corneal transplants that are among the absolute best in the world. Thanks to Dr. Pawiroredjo's systematic approach and ongoing implementation of the latest international protocols, patients experience faster recovery and better visual outcomes. His in-depth knowledge of both traditional and advanced laser techniques makes him a forerunner in the region. Colleagues praise Dr. Pawiroredjo not only for his surgical talent, but also for his ability to clearly convey complex medical knowledge.
What initially began as a one-way street in expertise transfer has now grown into a close, equal partnership. Dutch specialists benefit from the hands-on experience and creative solution strategies from Paramaribo, while Surinamese doctors have access to advanced technologies and academic support from Rotterdam. Joint research projects lay the foundation for new treatment methods and strengthen the scientific position of both partners.
Chairman Dion Paridaens of Coöperatie Medici Oogzorg Rotterdam underlines the impact: "The quality bar has been raised tremendously; that's exactly what we were going for together." Ophthalmologist-in-training Itmar Cheuk-Alam adds, "Because we speak the same professional language, cooperation is seamless and we can continue to optimize patient care."
By continuing and further deepening this partnership, the AZP and OZR are investing not only in medical excellence, but also in sustainable knowledge connections, trust and social impact in the region. A robust foundation on which to build further innovations in ophthalmology in the coming decades.
