PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health Emil Lee announced on Wednesday that he held discussions with the health tripartite committee to discuss various issues regarding health care on St. Maarten. The Minister commended SZV for the efforts they made by seeking to recruit board members publicly and not follow the same trend where these appointments were made politically. Minister Lee said that when discussing with the St. Maarten Medical Cente (SMMC) where he was a former chairman of the board he realized that some of the challenges the hospital was facing years ago still do exists today. Lee said that one of the biggest hindrance of SMMC is the low tariffs which must be amended in order for the hospital to cover its expenses and provide proper health care. He further explained that while St. Maarten got its country status some five years ago nothing has been done to change the status of SMMC to St. Maarten’s National Hospital. The Minister of Health said while he fully support the construction of new hospital he believes priority should be placed on proper and affordable healthcare for the people of St. Maarten.
Minister Lee said that there is so much ground work has to be done prior to the construction of the new hospital. He said while being the chairman of the SMMC board a lot of work and efforts were done to make the country’s hospital financially stable, but many of those issues have not been fully resolved and is still plaguing the institution.
With regards to short term contracts, Minister Lee said that the Ministry has made the curbing the abuse of short term contracts a priority for them and at the moment the legislation is with the department of legal affairs. While the Minister confirmed that the Ministry is working with the amended legislation that was approved by the SER he did not say when this legislation will be finalized and put into effect.
