(United Peoples (UP) Party) Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Dr. Ruth Douglass from the United Peoples (UP) Party is calling on the Minister of Public Health to stop playing out this sensitive matter in public, and handle this in a productive and professional manner that will ultimately produce positive results with respect to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).
The Permanent Committee of Parliament for Public Health, Social Development and Labour met with some of the main stakeholders so far. The public exchange in the media continues with respect to the situation at our only medical facility on the Dutch side, and this is not creating an atmosphere of advancing safe and compassionate patient care.
A speedy resolution to this matter is urgently needed in order to restore the confidence of the community in SMMC. Those suffering are the community and the dedicated and hardworking staff of SMMC.
As a medical doctor, the situation is very tense because people in our communities are extremely concerned and some are literally fearful about going to SMMC. The Minister of Public Health should be more responsible and use tact.
Patients and consumers can play an important role in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care around the world and including here on Sint Maarten. I would recommend to consumers and patients to check out the following website:
http://www.who.int/patientsafety/worldalliance/en/index.html ; where one can engage in a discussion that can help shape the future of patient-centered care. Every patient and consumer can make a difference.
In October 2004 the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched a patient safety programme dedicated to bringing significant benefits to patients in countries rich and poor, developed and developing, in all corners of the globe.
The patient safety programme was established in response to Resolution WHA55.18, adopted by the WHO’s 55th World Health Assembly in May 2002, which urged member states to pay the closest possible attention to patient safety and establish science-based systems for improving safety and the quality of care. The resolution reflected and advanced various calls to action to make patient safety a public health priority.
With respect to social welfare, the UP Faction office as well as other UP MPs has received numerous complaints from welfare recipients about being removed from the social help lists. We have to question why is this continuing? I am calling on the Minister of Social Development Hon. Cornelius de Weever to stop playing games with the welfare of our people.
Our people are living in difficult times and the challenges of high GEBE bills, food prices etc. are seriously impacting the community and the people are demanding relief. Where is the relief for our pensioners?
UP Member of Parliament Dr. Ruth Douglass
Saturday, September 22, 2012