WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has filed a lawsuit against the government of Curaçao, claiming that the Pisas administration, specifically MFK Minister Javier Silvania, is refusing to raise the maximum salary cap for medical specialists employed in the public sector. This decision is reportedly leading to the resignation of doctors, the overburdening of current medical staff, and even doctors experiencing burnout and being forced to stay at home. 

As of January 1, 2025, the Landsverordening Normering Topinkomens (LNT), which regulates the salary of public sector workers, will reduce the salary of medical specialists earning above the LNT threshold to a maximum of 386,000 guilders per year for a period of three years. Although Minister Silvania promised an increase to 501,000 guilders, this has yet to be formalized. Insiders suggest that Silvania is hesitant to approve the increase ahead of elections for fear of criticism for favoring "wealthy" medical specialists. 

Within the walls of CMC, tensions are rising as specialists blame the hospital's board of directors (RvB) for the current crisis, even submitting a motion of no confidence against the leadership. However, the leadership is cornered as the hospital depends on decisions from Minister Silvania and the Cabinet for any adjustments to the salary cap. 

On February 25, CMC filed a petition for an urgent court ruling, requesting that the court order the government to raise the salary cap for medical specialists working at the hospital. According to CMC, the current salary limit is causing a mass exodus of medical specialists and making it impossible to attract new talent. This situation could lead to the hospital’s inability to fulfill its legal obligation to provide responsible healthcare to the public. CMC has emphasized the urgent nature of its request, underlining the critical impact this issue has on the healthcare system in Curaçao.