WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is preparing legislative changes that would allow it to establish emergency medical facilities, operate regional medication distribution centers, and independently import pharmaceuticals when strikes or commercial disputes threaten the continuity of healthcare services.
Health Minister Tyron Boekhoudt has instructed the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) to develop a comprehensive emergency healthcare plan within three months, including a proposed budget and the legislative amendments required to implement the new system.
The initiative, announced on November 5 and published on November 6, 2026, follows recent disruptions involving the Curaçao General Practitioners Association (CHV) and the Association of Pharmacy Owners (VAE).
According to the ministry, the simultaneous actions demonstrated how quickly access to medical consultations and prescription medication can be disrupted when essential healthcare services depend on a limited number of providers.
The government's response focuses on creating alternative facilities that can be activated when regular healthcare services are interrupted for a critical period or on a significant scale.
A central element of the proposal is the establishment of regional government-operated medication distribution centers.
These centers would function as emergency pharmacies, with pharmacists designated by the government responsible for dispensing medications under the supervision of the pharmaceutical inspectorate.
The proposed system would provide an alternative distribution network if private pharmacies suspend operations.
The ministry also wants the government to develop the capacity to import medicines independently.
Under the proposed arrangement, if commercial pharmaceutical importers interrupt their services, the government could arrange its own imports and distribute the medications through the emergency pharmacy network.
This would represent a significant expansion of the government's operational role in the pharmaceutical supply chain during healthcare emergencies.
The proposal also includes temporary medical centers staffed by qualified doctors.
These physicians would be engaged through contracts or agreements established in advance, allowing the government to activate emergency services when regular general practitioners are unavailable.
The ministry considers these facilities particularly important because the existing Huisartsenpost provides medical care primarily outside normal working hours.
Huisartsenpost operates from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m., as well as during weekends and public holidays.
According to the government, the absence of a comparable daytime backup system creates a serious vulnerability when general practitioners suspend their regular services.
To establish the proposed emergency organization, the ministry is preparing amendments to several pieces of legislation.
These include the National Ordinance on Healthcare Institutions (Landsverordening zorginstellingen), the National Ordinance on the Supply of Medicines (Landsverordening geneesmiddelenvoorziening), and the Temporary National Ordinance Restricting the Establishment of Medical Practitioners (Tijdelijke landsverordening beperking vestiging medische beroepsbeoefenaren).
The ministry indicated that existing legal powers will be used where possible until the proposed amendments enter into force.
Within three months, a complete implementation plan must be prepared and submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration.
The plan must include a budget and proposals for the legislative changes needed to support the emergency organization.
The initiative will involve cooperation between GMN, the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the Public Health Inspectorate, Huisartsenpost, and Curaçao Medical Center (CMC).
Their involvement is intended to support the development of operational arrangements capable of maintaining healthcare services during major disruptions.
Boekhoudt justified the proposed measures by referring to the government's constitutional responsibility to protect public health.
He argued that private healthcare providers, professional associations, and commercial organizations do not carry the same constitutional responsibility for the collective welfare of Curaçao's population.
That responsibility, he maintained, ultimately rests with the government.
The minister also indicated that the measures are intended to address the consequences of situations in which a limited number of healthcare providers or suppliers hold a dominant practical position in the delivery of essential services.
According to the ministry, the proposed emergency system would reduce the risk that patients become directly affected by conflicts over financial compensation or other disputes within the healthcare sector.
However, the announcement does not establish when the emergency pharmacies or temporary medical centers will become operational, how many facilities will be created, or how much the system will cost.
Those details are expected to be addressed in the implementation plan that must be developed over the coming three months.
The proposed legislative changes will also require consideration through the appropriate governmental and parliamentary procedures.
For now, the government's immediate priority is to develop the legal and operational framework needed to maintain essential healthcare services during future disruptions.
If implemented, the emergency system would give Curaçao an additional mechanism for protecting access to medical care and medication when the normal healthcare network is unable to function.