Dear Editor,
The state of healthcare in St. Maarten has reached a critical point, and the negligence of the Minister of VSA is exacerbating the crisis. The long wait times at the SMMC Emergency Room (ER), inefficient costs of emergency care, and the continuous financial struggles of healthcare providers paint a troubling picture of a system in distress.
Despite repeated warnings and calls for action, to this day, the Ministry of VSA has failed to implement sustainable solutions. Urgent Care services, which provide a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to the ER, remain unsupported. Patients seeking treatment at the ER are met with excessive costs, while those covered by SZV insurance suffer from delayed or denied payments, further deepening the healthcare burden.
St. Maarten’s Prime Minister has admitted that to this day the current system is unsustainable at the current rate. However, his Minister of VSA has taken no meaningful steps to address the ongoing crisis. SZV continues to complain about financial burdens while simultaneously refusing to support a more cost-effective healthcare model, leaving many healthcare operators unpaid for over a year.
Members of Parliament have urged the Ministry of VSA to support the continuation of the HAP operations since 2024, yet these calls have been met with resistance. The St. Maarten Diagnostic Center (SMDC) has been awaiting a response to HAP-related enquiries for over six months. Due to a lack of funding and government support, SMDC’s Urgent Care services have now been forced to close for the second time, further depriving residents of essential medical care. SMDC Urgent Care was the only after-hours care option for non-life-threatening cases on the island.
The contributions of SMDC, particularly the efforts of Dr. Michael Y. Dennaoui and his son, Dr. Danny Dennaoui, have been consistently disregarded and disrespected. Both doctors, with deep ties to the island, have dedicated their time and resources to improving community healthcare, only to face baseless scrutiny and defamation. Rather than receiving support for their preventive first-response care initiatives, their reputation has been unfairly put under fire.
Dr. Pedro Arrindell, in a recent interview, echoed these frustrations, stating that the ongoing neglect and apathy towards healthcare providers must end. The government must acknowledge the contributions of local healthcare professionals and take immediate steps to ensure that accessible, affordable, and efficient medical services are available to all residents.
Additionally, recent interviews have highlighted VSA Minister’s intention to enforce stricter training and qualification requirements for General Practitioners (GPs). However, it remains unclear what percentage of St. Maarten’s current GPs lack formal training and whether they will meet the new legal stipulations. If they do not, clinics may face fines or be forced to close, drastically affecting the local healthcare landscape. Many patients could be left without access to their trusted house doctors, increasing the burden on the remaining clinics and the main hospital still allowed to operate. This move could further strain an already-struggling healthcare system, exacerbating wait times and limiting available medical services.
The people of St. Maarten deserve better. The Ministry of VSA must take accountability and work towards tangible solutions before the healthcare system collapses further. We call upon the government, SZV, and all relevant authorities to act decisively and responsibly in addressing this pressing issue.
Dr. Danny Dennaoui
