The Saba Health Care Insurance office that is currently located in the Administration Building in The Bottom will be move. The move will commence this Friday and the facilities will not be open during this time. Any emergencies will however still be handled. The Saba Health Care Insurance office will reopen on Monday in its new location with regular working offices in the old UTS building next to Limetime Restaurant.
Photo Caption: New Location in The Bottom
Source: Government Information Services
General, Health
Subject: Central Committee meets on Health Care
May 18, 2009 (SGIS) – The Bottom, Saba:
Late last week, the Central Committee which was chaired by Mr. Rolando Wilson, met with Maarten Stoffels to discuss Health Care issues. The merger and privatization of the A.M. Edwards Medical Center and the Saba Benevolent Foundation was discussed thoroughly.
A few years ago the topic of privatization arose due to the financial problems the Government was facing. At that time, funding could not be acquired because the hospital was technically a Government institute and the SBF moved head. During the constitutional changes the Island Government brought up their concerns to the Dutch Government, being that Health Care was one of the main concerns.
Currently, Mr. Maarten Stoffels has been assigned at the kwartier maker at the Regional Service Center and represents the Health Care sector.
This month was the first of the scheduled monthly meetings regarding Health Care with the Central Committee. During the meeting the drawing plans for the hospital and old ages home were presented and explained. The board members for the new foundation were appointed. Finally, a draft of the statutes was also discussed and presented to the Island Council Members.
As stated by Chairman Wilson, “All parties were satisfied with the discussion and the meeting was fruitful, lengthy, and enlightening”.
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Source: Saba Government Information Services – gis@sabagov.com
Photo caption: Island Council with Maarten Stoffels
General, Health
Subject: Zagers travels to Statia to discuss hospital privatization
May 10, 2009 (SGIS) – The Bottom, Saba:
Today, Thursday May 7th, Commissioner Bruce Zagers with a small delegation will be travelling to Sint Eustatius to meet with Commissioner Julian Woodley to discuss the future status of Health Care on Saba and Eustatius. Island Doctor Gijs Koot and Island Secretary Menno van de Velde will be accompanying the Commissioner for these important discussions.
Seeing that both health care systems are going through identical transformations, the two commissioners felt it was very important that the two islands combine forces.
Currently, the two island hospitals are managed by the Island Governments. However, seeing that Health Care is going to fall directly under the Ministry of Health in Holland, the hospitals will have to be privatized and then fall directly under a Board of Directors.
Seeing the potential impact this will have on the community it is of utmost important that these matters be discussed jointly. Commissioner Zagers is positive that this meeting will produce ideas on how the Island Governments will deal with the privatization process. Zagers also stated that he realizes there is a lot of unrest about the process and he hopes that this meeting will produce a concrete strategy that can be carried out by both Island Governments. Furthermore, there should be some sensitization of the transitional processing in regard to all health care staff members involved.
Source: Saba Government Information Services – gis@sabagov.com
Photo caption: None
General, Health
Subject: Saba Dispensary has Opening
March 3, 2009 (SGIS) – The Bottom, Saba:
This week, the Saba Dispensary had its grand opening to the public and invited guests. The privatization of the pharmacy on Saba has taken several years, but Saba now has a dedicated facility. Commissioner of Health, Bruce Zagers stated in his speech, “I am proud to see that this transition has been realized during my term as Commissioner of Health”.
This facility is a major improvement to the previous pharmacy which was owned and operated by the Island Government. This should provide a central location and improved service for the community of Saba. The pharmacy is reminiscent of a facility within a large country or storefront. For the relatively small area on Saba, it definitely provides a new and modern look to the island.
Even now, the Island Government continues to have a strong working relationship with the Saba Dispensary – Friendly Island Drugstore. Friendly Island has been the main supplier for the Governments previous pharmacy for years.
Upon visiting the pharmacy you can find not only medication but canes, vitamins, lotions, and various other amenities. Joep Groenendijk will often be on-hand to courteously answer all questions and fill your prescriptions’.
Source: Saba Government Information Services – gis@sabagov.com
General, Health
Mastrolonardo and Koot with xray processing system
March 3, 2009 (SGIS) – The Bottom, Saba:
This week the hospital had a much anticipated upgrade to their x-ray system. Previously, x-rays were done in the typical processing of x-rays with a dedicated x-ray development room. Miami based technician Alberto Mastrolonardo will spend a few days on Saba installing the modern x-ray system. This system acts as more of an upgrade to the existing x-ray table and system. “This is actually a cost-effective upgrade that was made, since we were able to use existing equipment”, said Mastrolonardo.
Dr. Gijs Koot made himself available on his day-off to walk Alberto through the hospital and test out the new system. Koot has been awaiting this installation and upgrade for some time now, and was glad to see this finally implemented.
The upgrade lies within the x-ray processing system. Instead of using liquids and traditional processing, a digital machine and phosphor plates are used to scan x-rays into a computer system. This system should add a greater level of reliability, portability, and clarity to the hospitals x-ray system. Portability being a key advantage, x-rays can be exported into common computer files and sent to neighboring hospitals for deeper analysis and consultation.
Commissioner of Health, Bruce Zagers stated, “I am very glad to see this new innovation reach Saba.” Zagers has high hopes that this will lead to reliable future diagnosis of his local people.
Source: Saba Government Information Services – gis@sabagov.com
General, Health
