WILLEMSTAD – The Social Insurance Bank (SVB) received more than 4,800 requests in 2023 for medical referrals abroad, according to the organization's recently published annual financial report. This marks a nearly 7% increase compared to 2022, when just over 4,500 applications were submitted. 

Medical referrals abroad, or medische uitzending, involve temporarily sending patients to hospitals or clinics outside Curaçao for specialized care that is not available locally. Common destinations include Colombia, the Netherlands, and other countries in the region. 

Costs Rise Alongside Demand 

The rise in applications came with a significant cost increase. In 2023, the SVB spent over 57 million guilders on these medical referrals—almost 6 million guilders more than in the previous year. 

According to the SVB, the uptick in requests is due to a combination of factors, including a growing demand for specialized healthcare, longer waiting lists on the island, and greater public awareness of the medical referral system. 

The annual report, however, does not specify how many of the requests were approved, leaving open questions about how accessible the system truly is for patients in need. 

With demand continuing to rise, the figures underscore ongoing pressures on Curaçao’s healthcare system and highlight the need for long-term strategies to expand local medical capacity.