PHILIPSBURG--Persons visiting the Social and Health Insurance SZV facility (former Social Insurance Bank) no longer will have to wait hours in line for service.
The health insurance provider has introduced a new appointment system to cut down on the long queues. SZV also unveiled its new logo and, with the assistance of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, hoisted a flag bearing this logo outside its office on Monday.
SZV Director Dennis Richardson said many persons usually visited the office from early in the morning and stood in queues to get numbers for service. With the help of Business Consultant Hans de Bruyne, this system has been improved. Persons who visit SZV no longer will be given numbers. They will be given appointments. They can then show up at the time of their appointments, Richardson explained. Those who miss their appointments will have to make new appointments.
The new system has been tested and "it has been successful." A total of 120 appointments will be handled daily, which will amount to more than 20,000 a year. Emergency cases will be handled at a special window.
Richardson said the idea was to shorten the time within which people could be helped. A total of 34,000 persons are currently insured at SZV. Some 6,000 pensioners are also registered.
Richardson explained that St. Maarten had taken over most of the services offered by SVB under the new SZV organisation. SVB Cura�ao has agreed to continue providing certain services, such as processing pensions, until July. St. Maarten will take over these services gradually.
He said SZV had decided to take on its challenges and he was proud of the attitude of the staff, many of whom enthusiastically approached their jobs to do them "better than before." SZV's staff eventually will have to be increased by 10-12 persons as St. Maarten assumes additional tasks from SVB.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said the change at SZV was another step and another block in building country St. Maarten, and was pivotal that the changes were recognised and appreciated, because they represented a very important service.
"For many years the country Netherlands Antilles has had legislation, some of it very old, as well as updated legislation regarding social security that governed us as part of the Netherlands Antilles. Much of that can be taken over and has been taken over by the new SZV of St. Maarten. However, we also now have the opportunity to make changes to this legislation and these policies that will benefit St. Maarten as a country," she said.
The Prime Minister said she and Richardson had been looking at where that need existed. "I think that the more steps we make towards this institution and the services it provides, the more the people will get to understand the importance of the service to St. Maarten, also going towards the future of country St. Maarten."
Health Ministry Acting Secretary General Jorien Wuite described the changes as an important milestone. Wuite said she had been expecting disruption of service with the changes, but she was happy to see that the transition had gone smoothly.
Former Windward Islands SVB Head Reginald Willemsberg is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SZV and is responsible for the facility's day-to-day operations. SZV's office on A.Th. Illidge Road ? the former Medical Cost Provisions BZV department office ? will remain open and is being run by Robert Budike.
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