Willemstad, June 4, 2025 – Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) remains committed to providing high-quality, accessible, and patient-centered care for the entire community. This includes ensuring availability of appointments, reducing waiting lists, improving communication between the hospital and primary care providers, and delivering care that is empathetic and focused on the needs of patients and their families.
To realize these goals, the Board of Directors has been actively implementing for several years a range of measures aimed at strengthening operations and optimizing service delivery. This process involves thorough evaluations, restructuring where necessary, and introducing accountability across all levels of care. “We recognize that this transition has led to friction and discomfort among some stakeholders, but the need for reform is essential and aligned with our mission of delivering the best possible care to the people of Curaçao,” says the Board.
One of the areas that has required difficult decision-making involves compliance with the LNT legislation (Law on the Standardization of Top Incomes in the Public Sector), which has been in effect since 2023. The CMC Board of Directors has repeatedly engaged legal avenues in support of a different interpretation or application of this law as it pertains to medical specialists. However, recent court rulings have clarified that the law is binding, and must be applied fully.
“We fully understand that these developments have had a personal and professional impact on our medical specialists,” said the Board. “These are not easy times, and the decisions made were not taken lightly. We respect the dedication of our specialists and recognize the vital role they play in the delivery of care. While we must uphold the law, we remain committed to working together—constructively and respectfully—to continue serving the people of Curaçao with compassion and excellence.”
“We do our very best to serve the community to the best of our ability, within our means and within the law,” said the Board. As a publicly funded institution, CMC has a legal and ethical obligation to act in accordance with national legislation. The decision to implement the necessary financial adjustments—while undoubtedly difficult—was made in accordance with the legal framework and following multiple legal proceedings. It was not a choice, but a responsibility.
Throughout this process, the Board of Directors has remained focused on the broader goal: to ensure that the Curaçao Medical Center continues to evolve into a modern, high-performing hospital where patient care is not only maintained, but improved.
The Board thanks the community for its understanding, and assures patients, partners, and staff that it will continue optimizing and building a sustainable and transparent healthcare system that serves everyone equitably and responsibly
CMC Board of Directors
