PHILIPSBURG:---On Wednesday, May 5th the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley made a site visit to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).
The Minister was greeted by the Medical Director Dr. Felix Holiday, World Bank Project Manager Ms. Ingeborg Verwoerd, Contract Manager St Maarten General Hospital Ms. Erika van der Horst
and the Facilities Manager Mr. Michael Sargeant.
An introductory presentation was given to the Minister, which shed light on the developments at SMMC. The presentation depicted the overall progress and the financial standings from past to present. The Minister was able to see a detailed outline of the construction plans, the timelines, the way the construction is progressing, and what the end product is expected to look like.
Minister Ottley was pleased that the improvements are advancing without having to wait on the new General Hospital to be built. "This really makes me happy to see that SMMC is making strides in the right direction to better serve our country while we await the General Hospital”. Ottley said.
The St. Maarten Medical Center is adding outpatient units for both oncology and dialysis services, two operating rooms, and a state-of-the-art MRI facility.
The Minister told the hospital representatives that these efforts should be made known to the public and he congratulated the Interim Director and his colleagues on a job well done.
The Minister asked for transparency throughout the expansion process of SMMC and the construction of the St Maarten General Hospital. Minister Ottley stated that; not only is it time for the people to have faith in our Medical System but that we owe it to the people to see this project through in its entirety.
