WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) will currently only perform acute and essential surgeries as suppliers of the required operating room materials cannot meet their promised delivery time. The COVID-19 crisis has prevailed and led to logistical delays resulting in worldwide material scarcity in hospitals. However, this does not apply to medicines.

Our major supplier of jackets and gloves said this morning that “everything similar to PPE Materials is depleted”. This is a serious obstacle for the CMC. CMC has contacted suppliers in the Netherlands, in the region and in Colombia and always gets the same answer that no material is available.

CMC regrets having to come to this decision, given the aim of the hospital to provide the Curaçao and Inter-island population with high-quality and safe care. The CMC has all attention for the waiting list. As soon as the material is available, the planning for patients will be restarted. CMC is working internally to improve effectiveness and optimize the efficiency of care demand and supply. In addition, the CMC is also working on optimizing stock management with the precondition of a stable influx of materials. Something that is currently missing.

Outpatient clinics will continue to make as many appointments as possible, considering “social distancing” and hand hygiene. Patients may only be accompanied by one adult during an appointment preferably a family member. In addition, only one visitor per patient is allowed per day. And between 11.30 and 12.30. We will maintain these rules until further notice.