Registration of Specialists is cumbersome and frustrating.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Health Emil Lee who had an independent study conducted at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) the Inspectorate and the Department of Public Health said the report from that study which was conducted by a Dutch consultant Everard van Kemenade is intended to get the real status of the of health care on St. Maarten. Minister Lee said after receiving the report his first objective was to get all stakeholders involved to work together. He said if healthcare is to be improved all stakeholders must agree to work together.
The Minister said he has since held a meeting with management of SMMC and his Ministry which he felt was very productive. Minister said at that meeting he was looking into getting an agreement signed by all parties since they all agree that all stakeholders must work together to improve healthcare on St. Maarten, however that agreement was not signed. He said that while it looks as though the situation is not improving he assured that things are improving but not at the speed he would have liked especially since SMMC director is currently not on the job.
With the regards to the amount of specialists that are leaving SMMC because of poor working relationships. SMN News asked the Minister if he addressed that situation with the management of SMMC since he is not aware of that situation. “I am not aware of who is leaving and on what schedule and the reasons they left.”
The Minister further explained that his Ministry is working on a new healthcare system which includes the New General Hospital. He said while the hospital is just a building one of the things that has been in place are properly trained personnel and qualified specialists is a critical part of the healthcare system, thus is the reason they are also working on the BIG legislation which is a critical part. He said that legislation is now in its first draft and it has to go through the various channels before implementation. Minister Lee said that specialists that are registered in the BIG registry of the Netherlands could work on St. Maarten but specialists that come from other countries have a difficult time getting registered on St. Maarten. He described the process as cumbersome and it affects visiting physicians and even those on the French side that wants to work closer with SMMC. Minister Lee said while St. Maarten/ St. Martin is one island and they want to share resources the current legislations makes it problematic. Minister Lee said that SMMC expressed their frustration in getting specialists that come from other countries approved since the process is cumbersome and not user-friendly. He said because of the Van Kemenade report they are able to streamline the process and make it simpler for everyone.
