WILLEMSTAD – MAN Member of Parliament Giselle Mc William is calling on the government to exempt residents with a monthly income below ANG 1,500 from paying the one-guilder contribution per prescription medication. She has asked Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt to have the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) cover these costs instead.
Under the current basic health insurance system, insured residents pay ANG 1 for every prescribed medication they collect at the pharmacy. According to Mc William, while the amount may appear small, the costs can quickly add up for people with chronic illnesses who require multiple medications.
The parliamentarian says the measure particularly affects pensioners who must live on less than ANG 1,500 per month. With the continued increase in the cost of living, she argues that even small additional expenses can place a significant burden on vulnerable groups.
Mc William warns that the prescription fee could discourage some residents from collecting or consistently using their prescribed medication. This, she says, may worsen health conditions and ultimately result in higher healthcare costs for society.
The MAN parliamentarian has asked Minister Boekhoudt whether he recognizes that the current arrangement places pressure on vulnerable residents and whether the government is prepared to introduce an exemption for low-income groups.
She also wants to know whether the SVB can take over the costs of the prescription contributions to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent residents from receiving necessary medication.