On Mother’s Day, Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) had the honor of welcoming the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Dick Schoof, during his working visit to, among others, the island of Aruba. This visit highlighted that HOH is not only crucial for Aruba, but also plays an important role within the region and for the Netherlands. The hospital’s success story—transforming losses and limitations in healthcare into gains and renewed confidence—demonstrates the high level of efficiency and professionalism within the organization.
During the visit, Prime Minister Schoof received a presentation from Mr. Jacco Vroegop (Chairman of the Executive Board of HOH) and Mr. Gregory Croeze (Member of the Executive Board), in which they spoke about the hospital, its staff, and data that support the hospital’s work. One of the core messages shared was HOH’s vision: “Accessible care for all,” emphasizing the hospital’s commitment to quality and inclusivity, regardless of who you are or where you come from.
In addition, internist Dr. Bert Rodenburg and surgeon Dr. Yuri Casseres provided explanations about ongoing projects and the challenges the hospital currently faces. Topics also included the importance of retaining existing staff and the global shortage of healthcare workers. In connection with that, the discussion also covered the need to create additional training opportunities for nurses, medical students, and medical specialists to help address the shortage of healthcare personnel.
A key topic raised during the discussions was the hospital’s call on the Dutch government to help secure full access to the Dutch pharmaceutical market. According to Vroegop, such access would benefit Aruban patients by offering a broader range of medications, available faster and at lower cost, without the current barriers. This access should be a natural part of being one Kingdom under the Kingdom Charter, and would also benefit Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
During a brief tour, the Prime Minister received first-hand information from professionals at the Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department. Since it was Mother’s Day, Prime Minister Schoof also handed out small tokens of appreciation to several colleague-mothers present.
The informative visit demonstrated Mr. Schoof’s genuine interest and engagement. Vroegop spoke highly of the open and constructive conversations and looks back on the visit with a positive feeling.
