The Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and Zorgverzekeringskantoor BES (ZVK) of the Caribbean Netherlands, also known as the BES-islands, have further developed the arrangement of their cooperation in a recently signed agreement. It had previously been agreed upon that SMMC would serve as the ‘preferred provider’ of care for ZVK-insured persons on Saba and St. Eustatius (Statia). However, with the new agreement, this relationship is further supplemented, with added benefit that the people of Sint Maarten will reap as well.
This agreement stipulates several conditions that ZVK and SMMC intend to uphold. Firstly, the parties have negotiated an agreed upon restructuring of the tariffs. Additionally, a visitation cycle for the specialty Cardiology has been worked out wherein Cardiologists from SMMC will make monthly visitations to Saba and St. Eustatius to provide consultation on the islands. Further, the ZVK will support SMMC in the establishment of four (4) new specialties for the hospital. These specialties will include Neurology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, and Urology.
The intention of both organizations is to introduce these specialties as soon as possible, with several agreed upon standards that will establish the quality of care for these specialties. SMMC will continue to attract qualified doctors and nurses to cater to their patients as well as the BES-patients. The broadened partnership will remain ongoing, wherein the progress of the agreement will be evaluated jointly and regularly. So both parties hope to continue servicing the community and bring care closer to home.