PHILIPSBURG--Healthcare stakeholders who form part of a tripartite group that inked in March a protocol for the improvement of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) have finalised their intermediary report.
The report will be presented to new Health Minister Rafael Boasman during a session later this week, Social and Health Insurances SZV official Glen Carty said on Wednesday.
Without divulging the details of the report, Carty said the document focussed on bettering the quality of care delivered in St. Maarten. It includes plans to have more patients treated in St. Maarten to reduce the money spent on sending large numbers of patients abroad for medical care. Key in the report are plans to “expand, enhance and improve” SMMC for a “new and improved” institution with a better quality of health care.
“Right now we are looking at the structure to see how to do this,” Carty said. “There is whole lot of work that has been happening behind the scenes.”
The signing of the protocol earlier this year included plans to develop a business plan for the hospital within three months.
The signing followed what was described at the time as “an intense tripartite meeting” amongst then-interim-Health Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs, SMMC Director Kees Klarenbeek and Carty at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on March 19.
The protocol was signed on March 26 by SMMC, SZV and the Health Ministry and “bonds” the “cooperation intentions” of the signatories.
SZV indicated at the time its willingness to help SMMC in its financial woes. A letter to this effect was presented to SMMC at the signing ceremony.
