The Chief Financial Officer of the Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH), Gregory Croeze, elaborated on the severity of the financial crisis facing the medical institution, confirming that the lack of sufficient funding from AZV directly threatens the continuity and quality of healthcare in Aruba. According to Croeze, throughout this entire year, the hospital has sent multiple letters to both AZV and the Minister of Public Health to warn that the reimbursements received for the care provided do not cover actual operating costs.
Croeze clarified that although AZV regularly issues advances (voorschot), these form part of the same overall lump-sum budget and do not represent a single extra cent from either AZV or the government. “To be clear: we are still not receiving a single extra cent. We are receiving an advance which, as my colleague Jacco (Vroegop) explained, we have to pay back,” the CFO emphasized, noting that the next clawback deduction will take place in December.
Lump Sum Remained Unchanged While Investigations Continue According to Croeze, the global budget the hospital receives for this year remained completely flat with no increase whatsoever, making it impossible to deliver the desired standard of care because the funds simply fall short. In response to this situation, AZV and the Minister initiated several investigations (onderzoek) that have not yet been fully finalized. However, based on one of the initial investigations, HOH received an advance last week that provides purely temporary relief.
Job Uncertainty and Projects Put on Hold The CFO expressed his understanding for the uncertainty currently felt by the union and hospital staff. “We are all uncertain, and we cannot promise anything,” Croeze admitted. He confirmed that several major projects and commitments are currently placed on hold, including:
- The dialysis project.
- The Collective Labor Agreement (CLA / CAO) provisions for a 36-hour workweek.
- All financial investments that cannot yet be committed to because no concrete agreement has been reached with AZV.
“If we do not receive additional funding, there will come a point when, with what we currently receive, we will no longer be able to provide the level of care we are accustomed to delivering,” he warned categorically.
Urgent Request to Postpone the December Clawback In light of the critical scenario approaching, the hospital sent a letter to AZV last week requesting that it refrain from cutting funds starting in December, and instead wait until all investigations are completed. Croeze noted that they expect a response later this week, which would give the institution a bit more breathing room for a few weeks.
Nevertheless, HOH management has not waited until December to take precautionary measures. According to Gregory Croeze, the hospital has already begun scaling back various supply orders (bestellingen) and has halted the hiring of external contractors (inhuur), as there are currently insufficient guaranteed funds to cover expenses beyond December