Cay Hill: --- At least two pensioners were refused treatment on Thursday at the St. Maarten Medical Center as the saga between the medical institution and the FZOG fund is to yet to be regulated.
Winnefred Romney a 63 year old retired civil servant and Hubert Brooks 70 years old said they had appointments with the bone specialist at the St. Maarten Medical Center on Thursday but when they reached the institution they were told that the hospital is not accepting the FZOG guarantee cards.
Brooks said he had knee surgeries in Curacao two years ago and his treatment is needed. He said even though he was told at the front desk that his card would not be accepted he proceeded to see the nurse that works with the doctor who told him if he did not have $75. he would not receive any treatment neither would be able to see the doctor.
Medical Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. George Scot said the hospital would not be accepting the FZOG card unless payment is made to the medical institution. Dr. Scot said the St. Maarten Medical Center did receive Naf 721,000 recently but that is not the amount the FZOG or SVB promised to make. The FZOG was supposed to pay Naf600.000 by the end of June and they did not return emails and or letters to Dr. Scot when he inquired about the payments. Dr. Scot said the FZOG has an outstanding of 1.4 million guilders and they need to make good on their obligations to the pensioners, since the pensioners did not pay the SMMC they paid FZOG. Dr. Scot said the unions that are representing the pensioners are angry at the wrong person and institution and they need to address the FZOG who collected the premiums from the pensioners.
Dr. Scot further explained that the FZOG/SVB has three patients taking dialysis treatment at the hospital three times a week. Each patient he said would take 12 treatments per month minimum but FZOG is only paying for one treatment for each patient. He said SMMC is supposed to receive payment for 36 treatments per month and all they are getting is three. Dr. Scot said when this matter was raised he was told FZOG/SVB has mistake in their system and they need to correct it. Dr. Scot said unless the corrections and the payments are made the hospital would not be accepting FZOG guarantee cards. “We simply cannot continue this way as a medical institution and FZOG/SVB has to understand that and do their work. I cannot wait another six months for them to make the corrections on the dialysis patients”. Dr. Scot said.
The medical director said FZOG/SVB is telling them that Naf146, 000 is a back payment which dated back from 2005. “This is not what we have on our books and SVB would have to see where their mistakes are and correct them now, we at the SMMC need clarity”. Dr. Scot insisted.
