WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has seen another wave of specialist resignations, with three doctors submitting their resignations this week. This adds to the growing number of specialists who have left the institution over the past twelve months. One of the main reasons cited for their departure is the Landsverordening normering topinkomens (LNT), a law that caps salaries for top professionals in the public sector. The Inspectorate for Public Health has been informed of the situation.
CMC stated that it respects the specialists' decisions and assured that patient care remains guaranteed. The hospital emphasized that all necessary measures are being taken to maintain the quality of medical services.
Salary Cap Causing Discontent Among Specialists
The LNT, implemented in late 2022, limits the salaries of top executives and professionals in the (semi-)public sector, including medical specialists. Since its introduction, doctors have expressed concerns, particularly regarding its impact on newly hired specialists whose earnings are now restricted.
CMC has repeatedly stated that the salary cap makes it difficult to attract and retain medical specialists. In a letter to the Minister of Health, the hospital’s management warned of a looming healthcare crisis due to the salary ceiling of 386,000 Antillean guilders (ANG), which they argue is insufficient to recruit and retain specialists.
Legal Dispute Over Private Practice
In November 2024, a court ruled that six medical specialists at CMC could not resign and transition into independent private practice while continuing to treat patients covered by the Social Insurance Bank’s (SVB) basic health insurance plan. The court denied their request, stating that specialists do not have the right to practice independently while maintaining SVB-funded payments.
It remains unclear whether the three specialists who resigned this week were among the six who previously lost their legal battle. CMC has not disclosed their identities but reiterated that it respects their decisions and is committed to maintaining high-quality patient care despite the ongoing challenges.
