PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union and the Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) Deri Leonard told SMN News in a telephone interview that she will be questioning the Minister of Health Dr. Cornelius de Weever and the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams about a new policy that was implemented by SZV. Leonard said on Tuesday morning one of her members called her while at the doctor's office to inform her that SZV sent all doctors on St. Maarten an email informing them that they are only allowed to see patients for 20 minutes. Leonard said the person is a civil servant, therefore the Prime Minister and Minister of Health must have some knowledge of this new policy which was implemented by SZV without informing the workers and the unions.
Leonard questioned what can a doctor do in 20 minutes, she said that it appears as though doctors are not supposed to properly examine and diagnose patients prior to writing prescriptions.
SMN News contacted head of SZV Reginald Willemsberg to verify the information Leonard provided to SMN News. Willemsberg said he has no knowledge of the new policy and he for sure did not send out such emails to doctors on the island. He further stated that if any of SZV's workers had done that they would have informed him. WIllemsberg promised to further investigate the matter.