Outgoing State Secretary for Health George Pantophlet in a press release said based on the newspaper article it stated that several pharmacies on St. Maarten would no longer be accepting the FZOG medical cards as of June 12.
Pantophlet said the two members of the National Alliance were given a lot of historical account of how the process started with FZOG and what has created the present problem.
Pantophlet said he believes a structural solution is needed to regulate the problems regarding the FZOG doctor cards. The state secretary said that he is fearful of the information that was printed increased the hopelessness of many pensioners who are barely making ends meet.
Pensioners he said already have to pay ten percent of the cost for medication at the pharmacies and this has already caused additional stress to the elderly.
The State Secretary said he believed that it is of uttermost importance for this problem to be handled before the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles occurs.
The problem will not go away on its own since health care cost is extremely expensive but those people who have already contributed with their many years of service should not be left groping in the dark with a feeling of hopelessness.
Despite many discussions have taken place on this issue the State Secretary said he believes that not only the central government but also the Kingdom government should get involved to find a solution to this problem since the levels of government are working together.