WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao could be missing out on significant economic opportunities in the healthcare sector as patients from the Caribbean Netherlands are increasingly referred to other islands instead of the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC).
That concern has been raised by the parliamentary faction of Partido Alternativa Real (PAR), which argues that the current situation is not only affecting healthcare access but also leading to financial losses for the island.
According to PAR MP Shaheen Elhage, Curaçao is not fully benefiting from its potential role as a regional medical hub within the Kingdom. Patients from Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba are often referred elsewhere, including Aruba, even in cases where treatment could potentially be provided locally.
The party warns that this trend could result in lost income for CMC and reduce Curaçao’s position within regional healthcare networks. Beyond direct medical revenue, the absence of incoming patients also impacts related sectors such as hospitality and transportation.
PAR argues that strengthening Curaçao’s role in regional healthcare could provide both economic and strategic benefits, particularly at a time when the hospital itself is under financial and operational pressure.
The issue adds another layer to ongoing discussions about the sustainability of the healthcare system and the need to maximize available resources within the Kingdom.