WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party MAN-PIN has renewed its warning that Curaçao is facing a serious healthcare crisis, accusing the Pisas administration of failing to address mounting financial pressures affecting hospitals, general practitioners, pharmacies, and other healthcare institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the parliamentary faction said the ongoing strike by general practitioners and growing demands for higher healthcare tariffs demonstrate that the problems extend far beyond individual disputes over compensation.
According to MAN-PIN, the healthcare sector has been under increasing financial pressure for several years, while the government has failed to introduce structural measures to ensure that providers receive sufficient funding to maintain essential services.
The opposition party recalled that it first publicly warned about a healthcare crisis during a press conference on July 7, 2026. At the time, according to MAN-PIN, the governing MFK party rejected its assessment.
Four months later, the faction argues that developments across the healthcare sector have reinforced its earlier concerns.
Hospital and Healthcare Institutions Raise Financial Alarm
MAN-PIN pointed to warnings from Curaçao Medical Center (CMC), which has repeatedly raised concerns about its financial position and the consequences of insufficient government intervention.
According to the opposition faction, CMC has indicated that without concrete measures, its financial situation could deteriorate further, potentially affecting its ability to provide the required quantity and quality of medical care.
The party also referred to nine healthcare organizations that recently raised concerns about their financial sustainability.
These institutions have reportedly warned that they cannot continue delivering services at the required standard unless the government addresses the gap between existing reimbursement rates or subsidies and the actual costs of providing care.
MAN-PIN believes these warnings demonstrate a broader structural problem involving the financing of healthcare services on the island.
The party also expressed concern about growing waiting lists, the continued referral of patients abroad for medical treatment, and the departure of healthcare professionals seeking better employment conditions elsewhere.
According to the faction, sending more patients overseas places additional pressure on healthcare insurance funds and does not contribute to improving Curaçao's domestic healthcare system.
General Practitioners' Strike Highlights Growing Tensions
The opposition party cited the strike launched by general practitioners on Monday, November 2, as another indication of the sector's financial difficulties.
Family doctors are demanding an increase in their reimbursement rates, arguing that their current compensation no longer reflects the actual costs of operating medical practices.
MAN-PIN criticized the government's decision to pursue legal action in response to the strike.
According to the faction, taking doctors to court does not address the underlying financial dispute.
The party described the legal approach as an attempt to place a temporary bandage over a much deeper problem.
It argued that regardless of whether a court orders doctors to resume work or rules in their favor, the fundamental question remains whether existing healthcare tariffs are sufficient to cover operating expenses.
MAN-PIN maintains that rising living costs have affected healthcare providers just as they have affected households and businesses throughout Curaçao.
Pharmacies Also Demand Government Action
The faction also highlighted concerns raised by pharmacists on Tuesday morning.
According to MAN-PIN, pharmacy operators have been waiting for approximately three years for the government to address their reimbursement rates.
The pharmacists reportedly submitted the financial information needed to calculate revised tariffs but have yet to receive a satisfactory response.
They are now also demanding higher reimbursement rates to reflect the costs of maintaining their operations.
For MAN-PIN, the simultaneous demands from general practitioners and pharmacists reinforce its argument that the healthcare financing system requires urgent attention.
The party believes the government should address the financial position of healthcare providers collectively rather than dealing with each dispute only after services are threatened.
Opposition Calls for Structural Reform
MAN-PIN is urging the government to review healthcare tariffs and subsidies as a matter of urgency.
The faction argues that the healthcare sector has faced financial constraints over the past five years despite economic growth and higher government revenues.
It maintains that economic progress should translate into stronger public services, particularly healthcare.
The opposition party also questioned why the government continues to report budget surpluses while healthcare providers warn that they cannot sustain their operations under existing financial arrangements.
According to MAN-PIN, the government's priority should be ensuring that Curaçao residents have reliable access to affordable, high-quality medical care.
The faction concluded that court proceedings and temporary measures cannot resolve what it considers a structural funding crisis.
Its central message is that the government must address the financial foundations of the healthcare system before additional institutions and medical professionals reach the point where they can no longer continue operating under existing conditions.