WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) denies that Health and Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK) is unaware of the most recent information regarding the hospital. The minister claims that the CMC is not actively working on a solution, implying that no efforts are being made to address the issue of elective surgery waiting lists. In a press release, the CMC refuted these claims.
The CMC felt compelled to respond to the minister's statements, clarifying that significant progress has indeed been made in reducing the waiting lists for elective surgeries. The list, which once had nearly 3,000 patients, was reduced to 1,191 as of August 19, with 1,092 of those patients registered with the SVB.
Contrary to the minister's assertions, the CMC states that it has been providing Silvania with weekly updates on the waiting list since September 2022. "Additionally, the minister receives detailed monthly reports showing clear progress in reducing the waiting list," the CMC added.
The hospital explained that factors such as the transition from SEHOS, the COVID-19 pandemic, and resource shortages contributed to the backlog. "The current number of people on the waiting list aligns with the inspector's guideline, which prescribes a maximum wait time of 7 weeks for elective procedures," the CMC stated.