A fierce controversy has erupted around the management and board of directors of the Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH). While the top executive of the institution calls for and demands funds to cover the high costs of medical services provided to individuals without legal status, a key question resonates among the public: what has the management itself done to create restrictions, payment obligations, or proactive control? Is it fair for those with unpaid hospital bills to receive a permit to stay or work in Aruba, or should they be required to settle their debts before receiving a residence permit?
These are policies that could be implemented. Or will the AVP-FUTURO government continue to prioritize undocumented individuals—given that the current debt and expense burden on Aruba is caused not by those who comply, but precisely by those who violated the country’s laws and regulations?
The debate around human rights is intense, but many argue that this right cannot come at the expense of citizens who duly fulfill their obligations. Those who work hard and pay their AZV premium every month should not bear the financial consequences of an illegality crisis that has gotten out of hand.
Direct Questions to the Board:
- Lack of internal management: Why did the director and the Supervisory Board close their eyes and let the debt grow without implementing a strict collection system or payment guarantee prior to or during non-emergency medical care?
- Zero proactive action: Instead of properly reporting these cases to the government or establishing strict registration and financial obligation protocols, the hospital remained passive until the debt reached an unsustainable point.
- Injustice for local taxpayers: Today, Aruban workers and AZV-insured citizens are being asked to clean up a financial mess they did not create, having trusted that responsible individuals were managing their money properly. Did that actually happen?
Those who contribute monthly to the public healthcare system also have rights: the right to a well-funded hospital, quality service, and responsible management that does not place the burden of administrative omissions on the shoulders of the working public. The question that remains is: how long must taxpayers continue paying for the lack of vision and action of the hospital’s leadership?
The Minister of Health is accused of withholding funds, but the minister is precisely protecting compliant citizens against the mismanagement of the Hospital Director, the Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht), and the Executive Board (Raad van Bestuur), who failed to properly fulfill their duties.