WILLEMSTAD – The Analytical Diagnostic Center (ADC), Curaçao’s national medical laboratory, is facing a serious financial crisis. A newly released report by the Working Group on Improving ADC Solvency reveals that the organization’s revenues and expenditures have been out of balance for years—excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021—and its growing debt is now exacerbated by a costly expansion project in Otrobanda.
The report, commissioned by Minister Javier Silvania of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN), paints a troubling picture of ADC’s long-term financial stability.
“The financial situation at ADC is alarming. Operational losses continue to grow, and debt has increased, particularly due to new construction efforts,” the working group stated.
Negative Equity and Cash Flow Problems
The investigation also found that ADC is operating with negative equity and struggling with poor cash flow, which severely limits its ability to function effectively. While a recent measure—direct invoicing to the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) for laboratory services provided to the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC)—has helped stabilize short-term cash flow, unresolved financial matters between ADC and CMC continue to hinder recovery.
Expansion Project Raises Concerns
The report is particularly critical of ADC’s decision to move forward with a large-scale construction project aimed at centralizing its laboratory operations. The working group questioned whether the scale of the investment was appropriate given ADC’s fragile financial condition.
“The scale of the construction project has placed additional pressure on an already overstretched organization. Rising building costs also led to a request for additional financing, further deepening the debt,” the report noted.
The group suggested that a smaller, more manageable investment might have been a better alternative, but found no evidence of a comparative analysis having been performed. Although ADC did conduct a financial feasibility study in 2018–2019, the working group believes it did not sufficiently account for the potential risks or evolving financial challenges.
Next Steps Unclear
The Ministry of GMN has not yet announced any immediate actions in response to the findings, but the report raises urgent questions about the future of the ADC and its ability to continue serving as Curaçao’s primary medical testing facility.
The case is expected to prompt further debate about fiscal oversight, strategic planning, and healthcare infrastructure management on the island.
