President Herminie visits Seychellois patients at SIMS hospital in Chennai & discusses enhanced cooperation

On the first day of his State Visit to India, the President of Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, visited Seychellois patients receiving medical care at SIMS Hospital in Chennai, State House said on Friday.

The President met personally with the patients and their families, including a colleague and personal friend, Dr Lawrence Reginald, conveying the government’s solidarity and best wishes for their recovery.

Accompanied by the First Lady, Veronique Herminie, and the Minister for Health, Dr Marvin Fanny, “President Herminie took time to listen to their experiences and reassured them of the Government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring access to quality and compassionate healthcare for all Seychellois, both at home and abroad,” said State House.

The President met a colleague and personal friend, Dr Lawrence Reginald, at the hospital. (State House) Photo Licence: CC BY

Herminie also met with SIMS Hospital management and medical professionals to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation to support Seychelles’ national health system. Discussions focused on specialised treatment, capacity-building, medical training, and potential partnerships to strengthen healthcare services in Seychelles.

According to The Hindu newspaper, President Herminie and Minister Marvin Fanny met Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman of SIMS Hospital, to discuss a collaborative roadmap aimed at strengthening healthcare services through sustainable healthcare solutions.

“These include super-specialty medical outreach, hospital infrastructure development, digital health integration, workforce support, affordable medicines, and dialysis expansion,” said the newspaper.

It added that “A team of specialists from SIMS Hospital will travel to Mauritius and Seychelles next week to evaluate the healthcare systems in Seychelles, and assess the way forward in coordination with the Ministry of Health.”

The Hindu said that as part of the discussion, it was also proposed to establish periodic super-specialty camps for patients accessing the Seychelles Government Healthcare System, aimed at enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving clinical outcomes through advanced medical technology, according to a release.

State House said the President also undertook a second visit to the Balaji Dental & Craniofacial Hospital in Chennai. The hospital is led by the renowned Dr Bala, who served for decades at Seychelles Hospital, providing dental and maxillofacial surgical care to countless Seychellois.

The visit provided an opportunity for President Herminie to express the government’s sincere appreciation to Dr. Bala for his long-standing dedication and service to the people of Seychelles.

Discussions during the visit also explored new avenues of cooperation, including specialised care, skills transfer, and potential partnerships aimed at further strengthening dental and craniofacial services within Seychelles’ health system.