WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has welcomed recent changes that could allow higher compensation for medical specialists but is warning that the discussion about healthcare workforce retention must go beyond doctors' salaries alone.
In a statement responding to the new National Ordinance on the Standardization of Top Incomes (LNT), the hospital's Board of Directors described the measure as a positive first step toward offering more market-based compensation for medical specialists. However, CMC stressed that the broader employment conditions of nurses, technicians, and other healthcare workers also require urgent attention.
According to the hospital, maintaining a strong and sustainable healthcare system depends on attracting and retaining qualified personnel across all professional categories, not just physicians.
CMC noted that the collective labor agreement covering hospital staff has not been updated in more than a decade, creating growing concerns about the competitiveness of employment conditions within Curaçao's healthcare sector.
The hospital's management argues that investment in employee benefits and working conditions is essential to ensuring that healthcare organizations remain attractive employers in an increasingly competitive labor market.
"Good employment conditions are critical for retaining qualified personnel," the Board of Directors stated, emphasizing that workforce stability directly affects the quality and continuity of healthcare services available to the public.
CMC warned that without continued investment in human resources, healthcare providers could face increasing challenges in maintaining adequate staffing levels, potentially placing additional pressure on an already strained healthcare system.
The hospital said the issue extends beyond recruitment and includes the long-term employability and well-being of existing staff members. Improving working conditions, according to CMC, is necessary to reduce turnover and ensure healthcare professionals remain committed to serving the island's population.
The discussion comes as Curaçao continues to address shortages in several medical specialties and seeks ways to strengthen healthcare delivery. Recent amendments to the LNT framework would allow exceptions to salary caps for medical specialists in certain circumstances, particularly when needed to address staffing shortages and reduce waiting lists.
While supporting that initiative, CMC emphasized that ensuring the continuity of patient care requires a comprehensive approach that includes all healthcare workers.
The hospital said it will continue consultations with the Landelijke Vereniging Medische Professionals in Dienstverband Curaçao (LVMPiDC) and the relevant government ministries to explore solutions aimed at strengthening the healthcare workforce.
According to CMC, retaining sufficient numbers of qualified healthcare professionals remains essential to guaranteeing uninterrupted care for patients and safeguarding the long-term stability of Curaçao's healthcare system.