PHILIPSBURG: Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Veronica Jansen-Webster, addressed concerns regarding the closure of the House Doctor After-Hours Practice (HAP) at the St. Maarten Diagnostic Center (SMDC) in Simpson Bay, clarifying that she did not close the service. The HAP provided non-emergency medical care after hours.
Jansen-Webster explained during Wednesday’s Council of Minister’s press briefing that the contract between Social and Health Insurances (SZV) and the HAP was evaluated and revealed significant issues, including inconsistencies in prescriptions and billing, lack of liability insurance, and unsustainable financing. These irregularities raised serious concerns about the continued operation of the HAP.
Despite the identified issues, Jansen-Webster granted a three-month extension to allow the HAP to address the problems while SZV conducted an audit. However, the final evaluation, completed on September 3, showed no significant reduction in emergency room visits and pointed to operational flaws, including unclear separation between GP services and diagnostics.
The Minister emphasized that maintaining the HAP in its current state would strain the healthcare budget and impact service quality. She stressed the need for accountability and operational standards to ensure that public health funds are managed responsibly.
Jansen-Webster rejected accusations of politicizing the issue, asserting that mismanagement, not closure, would create a public health crisis. She affirmed the government’s commitment to a well-functioning HAP but stressed that it must meet proper standards.
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