THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao plays a central role in a new Kingdom-wide initiative designed to strengthen healthcare capacity and reduce the long-standing loss of locally trained medical professionals to Europe.
According to the Dutch government, one of the core challenges facing Curaçao is the growing emotional and professional distance that develops when healthcare students spend many years studying and training in the Netherlands. During that time, many build personal lives and professional networks abroad, making return to the island less attractive.
To counter this, the new strategy focuses on increasing opportunities for Curaçaoan students to complete clinical rotations, internships, and parts of their specialist training within the Caribbean region. Discussions are underway with Dutch universities and local healthcare institutions to structurally embed Curaçao into medical training pathways.
The government also highlighted successful regional cooperation models, such as specialist training programs involving Aruba and Dutch university medical centers, as examples that could be expanded to Curaçao. These programs allow doctors in training to return temporarily to the Caribbean while completing their specialization, strengthening ties to local healthcare systems.
Authorities believe that training within the Caribbean context not only improves retention but also produces professionals better equipped to work within local cultural and societal realities.