WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) says the number of serious neurological patients on Curaçao is increasing, putting growing pressure on specialist care and causing longer waiting times for non-urgent neurological treatment.
According to the hospital, nearly nine out of every ten neurology patients now require acute or emergency care.
CMC says the rise is being driven mainly by an increase in patients suffering strokes and other urgent conditions affecting the brain and nervous system.
These patients require immediate treatment and are therefore prioritized over scheduled consultations and diagnostic examinations.
At the same time, demand for regular neurological consultations continues to grow. The hospital reported that the number of neurology consultations rose by more than 16 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Hospital officials also noted that the cases being seen are increasingly complex, adding further pressure on available specialist capacity.
Another major challenge is patient flow within the hospital. On average, around 25 patients are medically ready for discharge but remain hospitalized while waiting for follow-up placement, such as admission to a nursing home, hospice care, or home care arrangements.
CMC says this delays bed availability and limits space for incoming patients, contributing to broader capacity issues across the hospital.
The hospital emphasized that many serious neurological conditions are closely linked to chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and Diabetes.
When these underlying conditions are not detected or treated in time, they can develop into acute medical emergencies, including strokes and severe neurological complications.
CMC stressed that the solution does not lie solely within the hospital system. The institution says stronger prevention, earlier detection through general practitioners, and improved primary care are essential to reducing pressure on specialized hospital services.