WILLEMSTAD – The director of the ambulance service FKAK, Alwin Keli, revealed over the weekend that the recent purchase of a new Iveco ambulance did not take into account the height restrictions of the Emergency Department at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). Last week it became clear that one of the two newly acquired ambulances is too tall to enter the hospital premises. 

Keli emphasized that the ambulance service must now engage in discussions with CMC management to explore possible modifications, either to the vehicle or the hospital entrance, so the ambulance can access the emergency area without issues. 

In response, Minister of Finance Javier Silvania announced that today the FKAK Supervisory Board will receive a formal letter from him requesting an investigation into the ambulance purchase process. The new Iveco ambulance is taller than usual, a feature intended to improve usability in flood situations, but it now poses practical challenges for hospital access. 

The situation highlights a need for better coordination between emergency services and hospital facilities to ensure new equipment meets operational requirements.