PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), Hon. Veronica Jansen Webster said on Thursday in response to a press statement by the Soualiga Employers Association (SEA) about the Sustainable Affordable Act (SAAHA) (formerly known as National Health Insurance (NHI)) will have the ability to achieve long-term sustainability and improved healthcare for the residents of the country.

90% of persons are already insured with Social Health Insurances SZV. At this moment a vast majority of costs for ‘expensive’ care are already covered by the Government/SZV.

SAAHA will be adding premium payers, not consumers of expensive care, to the pool of SAAHA insured persons. Hence, the changes will make sure that a larger part of these costs will be covered by premiums of people who will now join: Co-insured persons will pay a premium; Uninsured persons; Privately insured persons with higher incomes; Government will pay a premium for civil servants instead of reimbursement of the costs; Persons who Opted-out will pay a solidarity premium as well.

Regarding the lack of risk pooling, the persons insured with SZV are in different funds. Therefore, there is insufficient risk pooling: the young and relatively healthy workers are in different funds than vulnerable and elderly people. The healthy and wealthy do not compensate for the vulnerable.

If we continue without SAAHA, elderly will be hit hardest. If the funds are not united to one as proposed in SAAHA, the premiums of the individual funds have to be increased. The elderly will be hit the hardest with an increase of their premium to 25%. They have the highest costs and lowest premiums at this moment.

The deficits of their fund are highest, which necessitates higher premium increases than for the other funds. Total income instead of only salary will be taken as base for the calculation of premiums.

Regarding an opt-out, this could exacerbate the funding gap rather than alleviate it. We fully agree with this. To prevent the funding gap caused by opt-outs, a solidarity premium is introduced for this group.

The solidarity premium includes a premium paid for long-term care (AVBZ) which is not covered by private insurers as well as an amount to compensate for the fact that private insurers do not invest in the health infrastructure. It would be unfair if people who opt-out do not contribute with a premium for the use of a health infrastructure which was paid for by the people insured via SAAHA.

Regarding Government’s non-compliance in contributions, the SAAHA legislation includes provisions to ensure Government complies with their mandatory contributions, and the supervision of the CBCS includes authority to obligate Government to comply with their financial responsibilities to the fund.

It has been stated by the SEA that the primary objective of the SAAHA is to address the financial deficit of the health funds administered by SZV rather than focusing on delivering better healthcare for citizens. This is absolutely not true!

The focus of SAAHA is affordable and sustainable access to quality care for all citizens of Sint Maarten. However, better healthcare delivery cannot be achieved with the current unsustainable funding of our national health system.

In other words, SAAHA is essential to enable optimization of our health infrastructure, and the quality of the care delivered. It goes without saying that a well-functioning and financed health system is a prior condition to keep our population healthy and well.

SAAHA provides improved and more sustainable funding. Moreover, it provides provisions and instruments to manage health and wellness of the population better. One of the major objectives is to allow access to health insurance for people who do not have access now.

For example, sole proprietors do not qualify for access to the public health funds and a private insurance is too expensive for most of them. With SAAHA they will have access, and last but not least, the fragmentation of our public health funds has also led to differences in entitlements. With SAAHA all citizens have access to the same improved package.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), Hon. Veronica Jansen Webster said on Thursday in response to a press statement by the Soualiga Employers Association (SEA) about the Sustainable Affordable Act (SAAHA) (formerly known as National Health Insurance (NHI)) that the implementation of the NHI is not hasty.

The first contours of the NHI were drafted in 2007. The unsustainable financial situation as well as the ordeals for persons who have no access to a health insurance, have been the reason to aim for a General Health Insurance (GHI).

A draft National Ordinance was sent for advice to Social Economic Council (SER) and the Council of Advice (COA) in 2015 and 2017, but it never reached Parliament. The deep socio-economic crisis after the hurricanes in 2017 and the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 has left no room for any further delay.
The financial situation has worsened progressively with every delay in the past years and is now in a critical stage. At this moment, the financial deficits of Social Health Insurances SZV as well as medical costs for uninsured persons have to be compensated by the Government.

The large of amounts of tax income used to compensate for deficits in our health system could have been spent on investments for economic growth.

With SAAHA, the deficits will be less than when we continue with our current health financing. Moreover, SAAHA will cover the uninsured, the government currently has to compensate for in case of lifesaving interventions.

The current deficits of the health funds necessitate the use of AOV to guarantee continuity of care. This leads to an accelerated depletion of the pensions of Sint Maarten citizens. Without SAAHA, the financial deficits in our health financing will continue to increase and the need for cross financing from the AOV funds will persist.

We fully agree that additional measures are necessary to stabilize the funding of our health system. SAAHA is the first and most important step, however, additional sources of income have to be considered, such as tourist tax, health taxes for unhealthy behaviors and medical tourism.

Regarding SEAs concerns of the challenges of a shared border and undocumented residents, the humanitarian approach of the French side towards healthcare actually alleviates rather than puts strains on our health system. Many prefer the provisions on the French side rather than the ones and the access on the Dutch side.

SAAHA is an individual insurance meant for all people who are entitled because of their residency status and others who are not resident but contribute to our economy: All registered persons living on Sint Maarten, irrespective of their employment status, are eligible for SAAHA.

Undocumented persons are eligible when they have a contract and pay taxes for more than 20 hours per week. To prevent abuse of the system, all others are not eligible. For example, undocumented persons with less than 20 hours labour per week as well as registered persons living abroad.

Moreover, there are provisions to prevent that people try to qualify for SAAHA solely to have access to expensive treatments they need. For example, people living with HIV who do not have affordable access to medication elsewhere.

San Juan, Puerto Rico:--- “The world needs science and science needs women”. The Young Talents Caribbean Region L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) program is a partnership between L’Oréal Caribe, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, with the support of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Caribbean Division– seeking to connect the dots between Caribbean development challenges, scientific research, and female empowerment by recognizing and honoring two young scientists with an endowment of $10,000 USD to further develop their scientific endeavors.
The annual FWIS Awards Ceremony was held in October 25, at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, during the 39th AAAS Caribbean Division Convention. The event attracted notable figures within the scientific community of the Caribbean, all to celebrate the achievements of two bright, accomplished, young women whose futures in STEM are still unfolding.
The 2024 FWIS recipients in the Caribbean specialize in the fields of agricultural science and sustainability.

• Mrs. Gillian Rowe, whose research focuses on the identification of causative agents for ginger rhizome rot at the University of West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, aims to enhance commercial ginger spice production. By profiling microbial communities, Mrs. Rowe seeks to develop eco-friendly agroproducts such as probiotics and bio stimulants to combat this disease. In the long term, this research will contribute to understanding local biodiversity, benefiting not only ginger but also other commercial crops and clinical microbiology in Jamaica. By tailoring agroproducts to local conditions, the work promises to lower production costs for farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and support the livelihoods of many farmers, particularly women, as they restore their infected agriculture.

• Savanna Lloyd, PhD., whose research focuses on organic semiconductor materials at the University of West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, is dedicated to optimizing deposition processes for highly efficient electronic devices. Recognizing the limitations of traditional inorganic materials used in processor chips, LED displays, and photovoltaic panels, Dr. Lloyd explores the advantages of organic semiconductors, which can be fabricated using simpler and more cost-effective methods. By developing a meniscus-guided deposition process, the research aims to induce uniform molecular self-assembly in thin films, balancing processability, thin film integrity, and molecular orientation. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the production of electronic devices, making them more accessible and efficient.

“L’Oréal Caribe is proud to recognize this second edition of For Women in Science program, in our region. This initiative gives Caribbean women in STEM the visibility and resource contributions needed to help them excel in their fields, advance their careers and establish themselves as leaders and role models for the next generation of girls and young women. We are delighted to showcase this class of FWIS awardees, who will undoubtedly carry on this legacy, complete groundbreaking research and inspire others to impact the world through their game-changing science”, said Gilles Delaunay, General Manager of L’Oréal Caribe.

The For Women in Science philanthropic program embodies L'Oréal's fundamental belief in the indispensable connection between science and women. This initiative aspires to cultivate a doctorate, postdoctoral, and early career community of women, empowering them to persist in their research, attain leadership roles, and become inspirational mentors for the generations of women and girls that will follow in their path.

"This joint initiative represents a significant advancement in providing ongoing support for this essential program. By this effort, we aim not only to increase research publications but also to empower women scientists to utilize their expertise for the development of our region. Our optimistic vision is for this transformative initiative to have a lasting presence in our community for years ahead”, said Dr. Natasha de León, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Caribbean Division

The Young Talents Caribbean Region marked the 53rd national and regional L’Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science program around the world, covering 24 islands in the region. The peer review and jury deliberation were chaired by members from the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. The candidates are evaluated based on their intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence, and their commitment to supporting women and girls in science.
“Our collaborative global initiative, the For Women in Science program, has made a significant impact on creating a more inclusive environment for women in scientific careers. It has also sparked a wider societal transformation among institutions, partners, public authorities, and the scientific and academic communities. This effort has promoted a genuine cultural shift, which is essential for sustainable development”, said Ms. Danielle Cliche, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean.

The program key action is: Promoting gender equality in science; at the end of the 1990s, there were only 27% women scientists worldwide. By 2014, this had become 30%, and today we have reached 33% but the progress is far too slow. (Sources: The UNESCO Science Report, 2021). Empowering women scientists to break the glass ceiling; distinct challenges remain to women advancing their careers in science. Only 18% of senior scientific roles are occupied by women in Europe. In addition to valorizing the contribution of women to science, women in science are still not visible enough, and we need more of them to act as role models for younger generations. For example, only 25 women have received the Nobel Prizes in science since its creation in 1901.

“This collaborative effort marks a positive step towards sustained support for this well needed program. With the introduction of this competitive grant, we hope that this will not only to encourage the publication of more research but also to spur women scientists to leverage their work for the region's development. The forward-looking vision is for this impactful initiative to endure in our region for many years to come”, said Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot, Representative of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.

For more information about L'Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science, please visit https://www.forwomeninscience.com/challenge/show/75.

PHILIPSBURG:--- To celebrate World Children’s Day, the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO partnered with the St. Maarten Library to create a right-of-the-child exhibition at its Philipsburg location and the satellite library at the Asha Steven Elementary School. The display provides useful information on the convention on the rights of the child for parents and children.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “For every child, every right,” reminds us of our shared responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind. Every child deserves access to basic rights such as quality education, nutritious food, a safe and loving home, clean water, and protection from harm.

The exhibition also features books that can be loaned from the library that focus on the protection of children from discrimination, caring and treatment of children with disabilities, children without families, children in the justice system, and other topics.

Parents, teachers, and students are encouraged to come to the library to receive a free digital copy of the convention on the rights of the child, activity booklets, and to borrow the books on display.

The library invites the public to visit three locations: the Philipsburg location, which is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, including the lunch period; and the branch locations in Cay Hill and Belvedere, which are open from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
For more information, please contact the Sint Maarten Library at +1721-542-2970, or visit our website at www.library.sx. You can also reach us through our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.