Minister of Public Health, Cornelius de Weever (DP) in a press release stated that he applauds the efforts by the Minister of VROMI, to commence discussions with the Management of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on the expansion of the SMMC, to ensure the timely processing of the permits that fall within the purview of VROMI.
"In my opinion", Minister de Weever said, "a well equipped hospital on St. Maarten is in the interest of not one Minister or one political party but in the interest of every St. Maarten resident and every visitor that comes to the shores of our beautiful island."
The Minister continued to say that in light of the hospital expansion plans, indeed the government of St. Maarten reserved on the capital budget of 2014, an amount of NAf. 35 million.
This is however dependent on the structure that will be put in place between the Government and the SMMC. The structure that will be put in place must be able to withstand scrutiny in terms of complying with the norms as laid down in the Kingdom Law on Financial Supervision and for St. Maarten being able to borrow on the capital market. "We can’t have our hospital embroiled in any controversy regarding its much needed expansion".
"As Minister of Public Health, I am responsible for general healthcare on St. Maarten and I am totally committed to see the expansion of the SMMC through, in collaboration with the Minister of Finance whose role it is to make sure that the budgetary process is followed correctly, and with of course the Central Bank under whose responsibility the issuance of a bond will have to take place to secure the financing. "
The Democratic Party has ensured that this commitment to the SMMC expansion was part of every governing agreement to which it has affixed its signature.
Other options of financing the SMMC expansion are also being explored in collaboration with the board and management of the SMMC, and the board and management of the SZV, that have a vested interest in a well functioning hospital.
With an expanded facility and the necessary specialists and human resources in place, the level of health care services being offered by SMMC will be taken to a new level. As recently as this past week discussions took place with the SMMC, the SZV and the Ministry of Public Health to further explore the participation of the SZV in making funding available for the hospital expansion. A two-prong approach is being pursued, as it is important that all parties are involved, to ensure that if a (in)direct relationship with government is not permissible, other options are available.
In addition to the expansion of the SMMC, also comes the discussion on the tariffs that the SMMC is allowed to charge for services rendered. This discussion and agreements are necessary in order for the SMMC to comply with its debtors when the expansion takes place, and keep SMMC on a healthy financial footing.
Any expansion of the SMMC without agreements between the Ministry of Public Health under whose responsibility the setting of tariffs falls and the SZV as the largest health care provider, can jeopardize the expansion plans whether these are financed through a bond issued via Government or through external financing.
"In addition it was indicated by the SMMC and agreed upon in the meeting that the current expansion plan requires some updating, which the SMMC has already embarked on," Minister de Weever continued to say.
Minister de Weever further stated that the SMMC has already received the blessing from the Ministry of Public Health in terms of the necessary license for the expansion of its facilities, designating the SMMC as a Central Hospital and approving the tariffs, which included new services not previously offered by SMMC, such as cardiology.
"Under my guidance and with the involvement of all stakeholders, the new tariff structure study has been completed and I look forward to getting the ball rolling on the expansion of the SMMC and thank all who have so far given their selfless contribution to making the SMMC what it is today," Minister de Weever concluded by stating.
Photo caption: Minister Cornelius De Weever during a recent meeting regarding SMMC’s expansion with SZV and SMMC officials.