St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) most likely will be granted a temporary tariffs hike within two months, Members of Parliament (MPs) learned from Public Health Minister Emil Lee on Friday.
The step is said to be necessary to prevent the loss-making hospital from again being threatened with bankruptcy as was the case before.
In fact, the need to stipulate more realistic rates for services offered there has been noted already for years. While some small adjustments were made since, the amounts being charged apparently still don’t suffice.
It remains a sensitive matter, of course, because keeping the cost of medical treatment at a reasonable level is extremely important for both the present and future generations. The intention reportedly is to seek ways that the increase won’t lead to higher premiums of Social and Health Insurance SZV, by further improving efficiency and enhancing compliance.
The latter sounds good, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. The minister himself said a more permanent tariff structure is to follow that will require a review of SZV premiums and ensure the sickness fund remains viable.
One should keep in mind as well that the employee’s part of the collective SZV premium already was doubled at the start of 2014, because government had refused to pay for the coverage of family members. Any new premium hike therefore must be weighed very carefully.
In addition, the private insurance firms need to be involved too and may not be able to carry the increased rates without raising their premiums. Granted, the persons in question earn more than the SZV wage limit, but also their interests must be taken into account.
All in all, it is clear that SMMC cannot continue in the current manner if adequate care for the Dutch side, but also sister islands St. Eustatius and Saba, is to be safeguarded in the long run. It is crucial that the extra funds to be generated also help solve the problem and don’t simply end up in a bottomless pit.
