WILLEMSTAD - Minister Dorothy Pietersz-Janga of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) has not yet responded after the cry for help from the healthcare federation. This is according to the chairman Lionel Sint Jacobs.
“The Minister of GMN has responded to the letter from the healthcare federation to the Netherlands,” said Sint Jacobs. Pietersz-Janga has informed the federation that it is working on reform within the health care system and that its priority lies with the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). She did not respond to requests from the federation to sit down together.
In summary, the minister says that she regrets that the federation has addressed its letter to the Dutch authorities and that it has sought a public platform through the media to air its grievances, without first expressing these to her as the responsible minister.
The minister also indicated that in due course the institutions affiliated to the federation will also be invited to participate in the consultations on reforms in their field of activity.
"In conclusion, we can therefore say that we have to wait our turn, which means that the perspectives in the short and long term have not changed," said the chairman.
In the meantime, however, there are individual institutions within the federation that are basically drowning and that can no longer wait and are reportedly considering legal actions. It is not yet known which healthcare institutions are involved.
Last month, some - including mental healthcare foundation Curaçao (GGZ) - had the greatest difficulty in paying staff salaries, because debts in respect of taxes and premiums have been built up, after which the tax collector seized the healthcare budget that they receive from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). Healthcare budgets that in many cases are already insufficient, causing payment arrears.
GGz Curaçao includes Klinika Capriles (general psychiatric hospital), Kuidaboyu (Foundation Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) and Fundashon Sonrisa (protected and assisted living and day activity center).
The Curaçao members of the federation are: SGR-Groep (Foundation Rehabilitation Center Curaçao); Birgen di Rosario Foundation; Foundation of the White Yellow Cross for Home Care; Home Care Banda'bou Foundation; Curaçao Betèsda Nursing Homes Foundation; Hospice Arco Cavent; GGz Curaçao (Mental Health Care); Fundashon pa Maneho di Adikshon (FMA); Brasami Foundation; and Fundashon Kontakto.