During his press conference on Thursday, Parliamentarian Eduard Pieters of the PPA faction issued a serious warning regarding the health situation in Aruba. According to Pieters, the concern is not theoretical — it is human. In recent days, many citizens have approached him with distress and indignation regarding their loved ones who passed away in the hospital without their families receiving a clear or adequate explanation. When trust in the healthcare system begins to break, the entire country must remain alert.
A system under human and professional pressure
“The signs are worrying! On one hand, there are families questioning whether our healthcare system operates with transparency and humanity. On the other hand, there are dedicated professionals who work with heart and soul but are visibly exhausted and frustrated due to long working hours and constant pressure. We cannot ignore this reality, where there is a system that can no longer sustain the feeling that both patients and medical staff feel unprotected,” Eduard stated.
Institutional conflict undermining trust
According to Eduard Pieters, the situation has been further complicated by recent media reports about a dispute between Stichting Verpleging Aruba, which manages the hospital, and the Inspectie Volksgezondheid Aruba (IVA). The disagreement revolves around whether the Inspectorate has legal authority to conduct certain inspections at the hospital. The hospital sent a letter to the Minister of Public Health, Mervin Wyatt Ras, claiming that the actions of the IVA were not clearly grounded in the legal framework.
“But for the PPA, the main question is different: if there is truly nothing to hide, why resist inspection? Inspection is not a punishment — it is a tool to evaluate, correct, and improve services. When people’s lives are at stake, transparency must be the norm, not the exception,” Eduard expressed.
Public trust is eroding
A few months ago, a citizen filed a formal complaint against the hospital. Some activists also submitted a manifesto expressing a lack of confidence in the healthcare system at the hospital, and even a former Minister of Public Health spoke about general distrust — not only regarding patient treatment but also how healthcare professionals are treated.
Even more concerning is what Pieters described as a “culture of fear.” Many families do not dare to file formal complaints because they fear retaliation while their loved ones are still hospitalized. This creates a dangerous silence.
Pieters posed several direct questions:
“Who stands up for the patient?
Who defends the vulnerable elderly?
Who stands up for families seeking justice?”
A call for urgent action
Regarding public health, the PPA faction is demanding an urgent public meeting — not only to address current disputes but also to openly discuss healthcare in general, including mental health, which is rapidly increasing as a concern in the community.
“The PPA urges the government to act decisively and come with effective and efficient solutions, especially for our most vulnerable patients, such as the elderly,” Pieters stated.
At the same time, the Inspectie Volksgezondheid must be given the space to fulfill its role and provide professional recommendations to improve hospital services. By improving services, Aruba can ensure better care, more safety, and ultimately a dignified quality of healthcare for all.
“The PPA faction affirms that silence is not an option. If there are complaints, there must be investigation. If there are warning signs, there must be immediate action. Where there is smoke, there is fire — and ignoring this puts lives at risk. Aruba needs a healthcare system that inspires trust, protects patients and professionals, and operates with full transparency. Because in the end, we are not talking about politics — we are talking about human lives,” Eduard concluded.
