WILLEMSTAD – The Association of Medical Specialists employed by the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has voiced sharp criticism of the hospital’s management following demands that they repay previously paid compensation. 

The CMC is requesting specialists to return sums reaching up to 100,000 guilders for the period between 2023 and May 2025. The doctors argue that these payments were legitimate, based on the 2019 BMP compensation scheme, and related to private healthcare income they generated themselves. They say they feel “betrayed” by their employer. 

According to the specialists, the hospital failed for years to honor agreements properly, citing a lack of financial resources as the reason. Now that the payments have been made, the hospital is invoking the Top Income Norm Act (LNT Act), effective since 2023, which caps public sector salaries. 

Although the courts have ruled that repayment is legally permissible, the specialists view this as an improper use of the law and an attempt to cover up previous financial mismanagement.