Clarity sought on cutback in physical therapy

The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is seeking clarity on the consequences of cutbacks in physical therapy care on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This writes The Daily Herald. The Committee sent a letter to Dutch Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Science Edith Schippers and her colleague of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk on Monday.The ministers were asked to respond to a letter from Caribbean Netherlands Association of Physical Therapists CNVF dated, January 2, on the consequences of the cutbacks in physical therapy care on the three public entities.

Since the start of 2015, the costs for physical therapy and exercise therapy are only compensated after the twentieth consult for people with a chronic indication. Patients have to pay for the first twenty consults out of their own pocket. Minister Schippers decided last year to level the health care insurance package in the Caribbean Netherlands to that of the Netherlands.

CNVF Chairperson Anita Groenendal, who works on Bonaire, told the media that people with a lower income people and the elderly can’t afford to pay the consults. And, people without a chronic indication have nowhere to go. She hoped that The Hague would change its policy and take the lower income of people on the islands into consideration.