WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Health Inspectorate has identified 25 pharmacies that failed to comply with an official order to resume their legally required operating hours, prompting authorities to impose enforcement measures carrying potential penalties of XCG 10,000 per day.
The action follows an instruction issued by the Inspectorate of Medicines on Wednesday, November 4, requiring all pharmacies and pharmacists on the island to reopen and operate according to the legally prescribed schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
On Thursday morning, November 5, inspectors visited all 33 pharmacies across Curaçao to determine whether they had complied with the order.
The inspections revealed that 25 pharmacies had failed to follow the instructions, representing more than three-quarters of the island's pharmacies.
The findings prompted the Inspectorate of Medicines to issue formal enforcement orders, known in Dutch as a "last onder dwangsom," against the noncompliant pharmacies.
Inspectorate Identifies 25 Pharmacies
According to the official announcement, the following pharmacies were found to be in violation of the instruction during Thursday morning's inspections:
Botika Barber, Botica Brievengat, Botica Brion, Botica Cerrito, Botica De Savaan, Botica Dominguito, Botika Gosie, Botica Groot Piscadera, Botica Jan Noorduyn, Botica Janwé, Botica Juliana, Botica Mahaai, Botika Mahuma, Botica Mampuritu, Botica Montagne Nobo, Botica Muizenberg, Botica Nos Deseo, Botica Novo, Botica Otrabanda, Botica Palu Blancu, Botica Plaza Nobo, Botica Santa Maria, Botica Stakamahachi, Botica Tera Cora, and Botica Vredenberg 2001.
The remaining eight pharmacies were not identified as being in violation during the inspection.
The Inspectorate emphasized that pharmacies are legally required to comply with the established operating hours to ensure that residents have access to essential medication.
Financial Penalties of Up to XCG 100,000
Following the inspections, the Inspectorate of Medicines imposed an enforcement order on each of the 25 pharmacies.
Under the order, pharmacies that failed to comply by 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, would face a penalty of XCG 10,000 for every day or part of a day that the violation continued.
The maximum penalty was set at XCG 100,000 per pharmacy.
The enforcement measure was intended to compel pharmacies to reopen rather than immediately impose a fine.
The Inspectorate did not indicate in this announcement whether any of the pharmacies had already incurred financial penalties.
All 33 Pharmacies Subsequently Reopened
In a subsequent announcement, the Health Inspectorate confirmed that all 33 pharmacies had reopened following the enforcement action.
Inspectors conducted additional checks and established that every pharmacy was once again operating in compliance with the legal requirements.
The confirmation means that the 25 pharmacies named in the initial inspection report had resumed operations after the authorities imposed the enforcement orders.
Although the immediate situation has been resolved, the Inspectorate has indicated that supervision will continue to ensure compliance with the law.
Authorities Emphasize Access to Medication
The enforcement action comes amid tensions between pharmacy owners and the government over reimbursement arrangements and financial conditions in Curaçao's pharmaceutical sector.
The government has maintained that pharmacies must continue providing legally required services while disputes over reimbursement are addressed through the appropriate procedures.
For residents who depend on prescription medication, the reopening of all 33 pharmacies restores access to pharmaceutical services following the disruption.
The Inspectorate of Medicines has reiterated that it will continue monitoring the sector to safeguard the availability and accessibility of medication throughout Curaçao.
The authorities have made clear that compliance with legally established operating requirements remains mandatory, regardless of ongoing disagreements over financial arrangements.