Member of Parliament Drs. Shailiny Tromp-Lee, in her capacity as Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance, Governmental Organization, Culture, and Sports (CFOCS) of Parliament, has sent official instructions to the Committee Secretary to convene meetings with the stakeholders involved in the Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) crisis. The request is for these committee meetings to take place next week.
Community Concern and Lack of Information Reports circulating regarding the alarming financial and operational situation at Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) continue to generate great concern in our community. Even the Governor has been informed, while Parliament itself, as the representative of the people, has received no information.
Given the lack of clarity and transparency from the Minister of Public Health, who has not yet come forward to offer necessary explanations or reassure the public, Parliament must take the lead to address this matter with the urgency it deserves.
“We cannot remain idle while reports and uncertainty continue to grow. As Parliament, we have a responsibility to act. Therefore, as Chair of the committee, I have requested that hospital stakeholders be brought to the table to hear directly from them what the reality is, and subsequently determine the urgent steps that must be taken,” Tromp-Lee stated.
Transparency and Structural Solutions The primary objective of these standing committee meetings is to gain a full and clear understanding of HOH’s situation. Based on the information and outcomes of the discussions with stakeholders, a decision will be made on whether to invite the Minister of Public Health to a committee meeting or to convene a Public Meeting (Openbare Vergadering – OV) if deemed necessary.
Tromp-Lee reiterates that the main goal is to provide clarity and peace of mind to the community and all healthcare personnel. “When it comes to the health of our people, there is no room for silence or delay. We need transparency and structural solutions to ensure our hospital continues to operate stably, safely, and for the well-being of us all.”