Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and
Labor (VSA), Hon. Richinel Brug, met with the management team of the St. Maarten
Medical Center (SMMC) on Monday, December 16th. During the informative meeting, the
Minister received an update on the progress of the ongoing construction of the new SMMC
facility, alongside a tour of recently introduced departments within the current structure.
The SMMC management highlighted key milestones in the construction of the new building
and addressed challenges impacting progress. One of the primary challenges discussed
was the need to occasionally fly in skilled workers for specialized tasks, with residency
paperwork and procedural issues sometimes delaying progress. Minister Brug assured the
team of his commitment to addressing these concerns, emphasizing the need for a multi-
disciplinary approach, including ministerial-level collaboration, to find timely solutions.
Regarding concerns sewage water concers of staff, Minister Brug was informed that the
new sewage treatment plant would be operational next week.
Following the presentation, Minister Brug and his support staff were given a bird’s-eye view
of the construction site. This was followed by a comprehensive tour of the existing medical
center, where Dr. Holiday shared updates on the new departments introduced in
preparation for the transition to the upgraded facility.
During the walkthrough, Minister Brug was introduced to several new clinics and facilities,
including the Orthopedic Surgery Clinic, Radiology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Nephrology,
and Ophthalmology clinics, as well as the Dialysis Ward. These additions are designed to
enhance patient care and ensure that SMMC’s staff is well-prepared for the seamless
integration into the new facility upon its completion.
Minister Brug expressed his appreciation for the progress being made and noted that the
meeting and tour reinforced his confidence in the country’s healthcare trajectory. “This
visit reaffirms that we are on the right track with our healthcare vision. The collaboration
between government and SMMC is critical to ensuring that our citizens have access to
world-class healthcare facilities,” the Minister stated.
The Ministry of VSA remains committed to supporting SMMC’s ongoing developments,
which aim to elevate healthcare standards in St. Maarten for generations to come.
