Representation of Saba prepared Health Care Workgroup

The second workgroup meeting of three about the health care package offered to residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba by health insurance office ZVK on Bonaire started yesterday, Tuesday February 11, and will end on Saturday. It was prepared by the delegation from Saba, Commissioner of Health Bruce Zagers, Director of Saba Health Care Foundation Dr. Joka Blaauboer. Also Head of Public Health Dr. Gijs Koot assisted in the preparations.

This meeting is a followup to the first workgroup meeting of October 2013 on St. Eustatius. In that meeting several bottlenecks were identified and will be further deliberated on in the meeting on Bonaire with health commissioners and other stakeholders of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Dutch government representatives.

On Saba the final meeting will be held later this year. The workgroup is likely to prepare an advice with recommendations for Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports Edith Schippers. Commissioner Zagers will reiterate the importance of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). He said he applauded the initiative to expand and develop SMMC. “This is not only good for the people of St. Maarten, but also for the people of Saba and Statia, as SMMC is the first place persons are referred to for specialist care or for emergencies.”

Commissioner of Health, Bruce Zagers stated, that during the meeting he will of course reiterate the importance of the St. Maarten Medical Center. The Commissioner concluded by saying that he applauded the initiative taken in St. Maarten to expand and develop the SMMC. “This is not only good for the people of St. Maarten, but also for the people of Saba and Statia, as the SMMC is the first place persons are referred to for specialist care or for emergencies.”.