WILLEMSTAD - Finance Minister Javier Silvania has announced that the Council of Ministers has approved a bill to increase the salaries of medical specialists at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) to a maximum of 501,000 guilders per year. This was disclosed in a press release from the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN).
Previously, CMC had raised objections to the Landsverordening Normering Topinkomens (LNT), a measure imposed by the Netherlands that sets a salary cap for medical specialists. According to CMC, this cap could result in longer waiting times and decreased quality of care due to difficulties in attracting and retaining specialists.
The proposed salary increase for CMC medical specialists is tied to efforts to reduce waiting lists. As waiting times decrease, specialist salaries will rise. The goal of this proposal is to enhance the quality of healthcare in Curaçao by attracting and retaining highly qualified medical staff.
“The proposal is the result of collaboration among various stakeholders, including the Working Group for the Assurance of Medical Specialist Care in Curaçao,” said the GMN. The working group comprises representatives from the National Association of Medical Professionals in Curaçao, the CMC board, the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), and the Public Health Inspectorate.
Additionally, CMC will receive an extra five million guilders this week to cover operational costs and ensure the continuity of care at the hospital. “Discussions are also ongoing regarding further monthly financial support for the hospital until the end of the year, with details to be announced soon,” the ministry added.