WILLEMSTAD - The Association of Pharmaceutical Product Importers (VIPP) has warned that easing quality standards for medicines in Curaçao will not lead to real cost savings but will instead create serious risks for patient safety. The association issued the warning in a press release this week.

According to VIPP, the new legislation announced by former Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Javier Silvania (MFK) aims to make medicines more affordable and quicker to market by relaxing existing climate-related requirements. This would allow drugs not designed for tropical conditions to be approved for local distribution.

VIPP stressed that Curaçao falls within climate zone IVb, characterized by temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity. “A label that says ‘store below 25 degrees’ is, in our climate, an air-conditioned daydream,” the importers said.

The association also denied that the proposal originated from its members, clarifying that only two importers had lobbied for the changes. Instead, VIPP is calling for faster regulatory procedures, stronger cooperation between agencies, and strict enforcement of existing quality standards to ensure patient safety and public health.