Today for specialized care, individuals are sent to other Caribbean islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique), Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, South America (Venezuela, Colombia), the United States or Europe. The costs are very high especially in the US and Europe besides the psychological costs to the person who is in a foreign country. You don't have anybody to greet you; no family at your side or to visit; language may be an issue, and all this adds to the stress of recovery an wellness.
Having specialized care on the island takes that burden away where you remain amongst family and that helps towards a quick recovery.
Secondly, another aspect of not having specialized care on the island especially for young country Sint Maarten which now has its own health insurance system, is the overseas expense. When you send an individual abroad, you have the added costs of airfare, hospital and specialized treatment. If you have a family member traveling with you, that is an additional expense of airfare, a hotel, meals, transportation etc. These will costs millions on an annual basis while it would mean less if the person could be treated on the island and a savings for our health insurance system and sector.
Thirdly, people with life-threatening injuries and illnesses need critical care. Critical medical care after an accident or falling ill is key to whether you will recover fully or not. Having additional facilities on the island will be a tremendous step forward in this area.
Other plus benefits for the resident population and those seeking medical care from abroad are that there would be no waiting periods. For example, a hip replacement in Britain, can be up to a year or more while in medical tourism destinations such procedures can be done almost immediately and for the fraction of the costs.
Insurance is another factor in medical tourism when persons choose a foreign country for a medical procedure. Some orthopedic operations, especially knee and hip replacements, are often not covered by health insurance. As a result, orthopedic surgery has emerged as one of the main treatments performed overseas due to the low cost. The cost savings can be up to 90 per cent.
Another added benefit is adding some travel and adventure where your medical trip is also a relaxing vacation period following the medical procedure. Medical tourism destinations promote this aspect just as much as the quality and cost of their healthcare.
Sint Maarten has much to benefit from the development of medical tourism. The benefits for the island besides medical access for residents are employment opportunities, business for restaurants, hotels, taxi drivers and other hospitality service providers.
Roddy Heyliger
