Member of Parliament George Pantophlet wants to know from the Minister of Finance Mr. Martin Hassink if the St. Maarten Medical Center received their Naf. 2,6 million owed to them for health insurance. It was just over one month ago on Tuesday January 21, 2014 that an article appeared in one of the daily newspaper indicating that the government was several months behind in its health insurance payment for the medical care of civil servants and teachers and ( former BZV cardholders).
The Minister of Finance had said and I quote: " that the backlog will be settled between this month (at the time the month of January) and next month being (February the present month)." The Member of Parliament said since no specific date was given and seeing the urgency expressed by the SMMC Director Kees Klaren who said that the situation can result in financially tough times for the SMMC if not speedily resolved. The Member of Parliament wants to know what this government considers to be a priority. (there is no wealth without health). We are talking about St. Maarten’s only medical institution. It would indeed be a shame that after bringing its financial house in order the negligence of government places the SMMC back into a precarious situation. What compounds the problem is that government is behind with all care providers. Information will have to be provided by the Minister of Finance as to how much is owed to these other care providers. We do not want another scenario to repeat itself where persons were not given medical attention because government was not paying its medical bills. It is no doubt that the 100 million guilders deal is looming larger and larger as time goes by.