WILLEMSTAD - The Pulmonology Department at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) is grappling with a critical staff shortage following the departure of one of its three pulmonologists. This has led to increased wait times for patients, a situation the hospital aims to address in the coming months.
According to Ingemar Merkies, the hospital’s medical director, efforts to fill the vacancy have been delayed due to challenges in recruiting specialists under the constraints of the Landsverordening normering topinkomens (LNT), a law that caps top incomes in public service.
The CMC website still lists three pulmonologists—Tamara Blonk, Erlijn Tiel Groenestege, and Paulus van den Berg—as part of the department. However, a hospital spokesperson confirmed that Van den Berg is no longer employed at CMC.
Merkies announced that two new full-time pulmonologists are expected to join the department in January and February 2025. He expressed confidence that the increased wait times at the outpatient clinic would be resolved within a few months of their arrival.
“In the meantime, we are working with temporary specialists to ensure continued care for our patients,” he added.
The hospital’s management remains committed to addressing the shortage swiftly while maintaining the quality of care for patients requiring pulmonary services.