WILLEMSTAD – During his years as Curaçao's Inspector General of Public Health, Sirving Keli became one of the most visible and sometimes controversial figures in the island's healthcare sector.
Keli regularly appeared in public discussions involving healthcare quality, nursing homes, pharmacies, waiting lists and staffing shortages. However, some of the most prominent disputes during his tenure involved Curaçao Medical Center (CMC).
The relationship between the inspectorate and the hospital became strained on several occasions.
One of the most notable disputes occurred in 2024 when CMC publicly distanced itself from Keli's conclusions regarding the death of a patient who allegedly received incorrect fluids through an intravenous infusion.
The hospital rejected those findings and at one point considered legal action. Later, CMC did in fact take legal steps to obtain investigative materials related to a death investigation in which Keli's name was also mentioned.
The disagreements highlighted the sometimes difficult balance between regulatory oversight and healthcare operations.
Despite the conflicts, Keli maintained that his approach as inspector-general was always aimed at resolving problems constructively.
He described his method as "coffee, barking and biting" — first attempting to solve issues through dialogue, then applying pressure through written communications, and only imposing measures when other options failed.
Keli also noted that his position often left him unable to publicly defend himself against criticism because the Inspectorate of Public Health operates under strict confidentiality rules.
As he leaves office, his tenure is likely to be remembered as one marked by both strong oversight efforts and high-profile confrontations over healthcare quality and patient safety.