WILLEMSTAD, December 23, 2024 – Unfortunately CMC management cannot guarantee the services of a gastroenterologist for emergency care between 5 PM and 8 AM on the following dates:
- Monday, December 23, 2024
- Thursday 1 January 2025
- Friday, January 3, 2025 to Sunday, January 5, 2025
- Wednesday, January 8, 2025 to Thursday, January 9, 2025
This is the direct result of the impact of LNT. Despite many attempts by the board to attract gastroenterologists from South America, Central America, Europe and other parts of the world, the CMC board failed to organize a standby service for gastroenterologists on duty for the indicated days. Attempts to collaborate with a locally established gastroenterologist have also not yielded any success in filling the standby service, also as a result of LNT, this means that patients arriving at the emergency department are at risk due to the lack of a gastroenterologist (gastroenterologist = stomach, liver, intestines) present.
The CMC board would like to emphasize that the need for gastroenterologists to cover the shifts in the Emergency Department is necessary and precisely for this reason the CMC board has done everything possible to prevent this situation for more than 1.5 years. There are several critical situations where the involvement of a gastroenterologist is essential for a patient presenting to the emergency department such as: varicose vein bleeding, objects stuck in the esophagus (throat) and ingestion of poisonous substances. These examples, although not unique, demonstrate that gastroenterologists are needed in emergency situations. The absence of a gastroenterologist can lead to undesirable treatment outcomes and adverse outcomes.
Due to an ongoing shortage of gastroenterologists due to LNT and the increasing workload for gastroenterologists working at CMC, we have reached a point where this situation is completely unsustainable. The board places the shortage of gastroenterologists as a result of LNT and the possible consequences and/or responsibilities and possible tragedies that may occur on the indicated days with the Minister of Public Health, Environment and Nature as already communicated in the letters of November 6th and December 11th last. Inspector of Public Health, Sr. Keli, is also aware of this. The CMC Board of Directors sincerely hopes that clarity will be provided in the short term regarding the 130% increase in the maximum LNT remuneration so that the Board is not hindered in retaining and recruiting medical specialists to CMC. In the meantime, CMC continues to work hard to ensure high-quality care with current resources.
