For more than fourteen years, I lived with constant pain — in my back, hips, and shoulders — trapped between diagnosis and disappointment. Like many others, I visited one physiotherapist after another, always with hope, often with resignation, and finally with a deep sense of mistrust. 

After my heart attack in 2018, I could no longer take painkillers like diclofenac. My pain intensified; walking became difficult, sleep impossible. Each referral felt like starting from zero — no follow-up, no evaluation, no accountability. Every session was paid for by SVB, yet no one ever asked if I was getting better. 

That, I believe, is the root of our problem:

We pay for treatment, not for recovery. 

In my case, one specialist diagnosed bursitis and advised cortisone injections, another suggested rest and therapy, but none looked deeper. Eventually, at 65, I was told surgery was “too risky.” For years, I managed the pain alone — until my physician, Dr. E. Jacobus, referred me to Mr. R. Dunker. 

Dunker did something extraordinary: he listened.

He observed, analyzed, and explained. He didn’t treat symptoms; he taught me to understand my body. In just four months, my pain dropped from 9.2 to 2. I now walk, swim, and live with energy again.

His approach proved that effective physiotherapy is not about the number of sessions — it’s about reasoning, attention, and patient empowerment. 

That is why I address this letter to SVB. 

As our national health insurer, SVB has a duty not only to reimburse treatments but to measure their effectiveness. Every year, countless Curaçaoans undergo physiotherapy with mixed results. Yet no system exists to track patient progress, collect feedback, or ensure that public funds genuinely improve health outcomes. 

I call on SVB to:

Monitor treatment results through structured follow-ups with patients and their referring physicians.

Survey client satisfaction to identify which specialists deliver lasting improvements.

Share constructive feedback with practitioners — encouraging accountability and excellence.

Recognize and reward professionals who achieve measurable patient recovery, not just session completion. 

Curaçao’s healthcare cannot afford to keep paying in silence. Every treatment should represent a step toward healing — not another entry on an invoice. 

After fourteen years of pain, I finally found relief through the right professional. My story should not be the exception; it should be the standard. 

Let’s ensure that results matter — for patients, for professionals, and for Curaçao.

Tico Vos