THE HAGUE – The Dutch government has announced a comprehensive, long-term strategy to address growing shortages of healthcare professionals across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, as pressure on healthcare systems continues to rise due to aging populations and increasing demand.
In a letter to the Dutch Parliament dated December 18, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, together with the State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport, outlined an integrated program aimed at improving access to healthcare education and strengthening the likelihood that Caribbean students return to work in their home islands after completing their studies.
The strategy spans the entire educational pathway, from study choice and admission procedures in the Netherlands to internships, specialization, and eventual reintegration into Caribbean healthcare systems. A dedicated program manager was appointed in the Caribbean in late 2025 to coordinate the initiative, which prioritizes higher professional and academic healthcare programs with a numerus fixus, particularly medicine.
The government stressed that isolated measures are insufficient and that only a coordinated, Kingdom-wide approach can sustainably address workforce shortages in healthcare.