Curacao 2030; Society 5.0

In 2030, after years of increasing health deprivation of the Curaçaoan population relative to the Netherlands and other politically affiliated Caribbean states, Curaçao is back on track to reach one of the highest life expectancies in the Caribbean again. The paradigm shift from curative healthcare to a broader understanding of health is well underway. We try not only to make sick people better but also to keep healthy people healthy. It is now widely understood that the unequal distribution of social and economic factors as education, housing, income, and employment produces significant inequities in health, and therefore requires appropriate policy responses. People from all backgrounds now have the opportunity to live and work in healthy environments, to eat healthy nutrition, to fall back on a social safety net, to attend quality educational facilities, and to access healthcare services equally. Moreover, substantial efforts have been made on collective health protection measures such as road safety, improving water and air quality, waste disposal, and sewage systems, and translated intangible results.

In 2030, there is a strong and continuous political commitment to improve and protect the health of our small island community, thereby acknowledging the World Health Organization’s vision that the highest achievable level of mental and physical health is a fundamental human right. Politicians, policymakers, and public servants, through a coherent network of government, community, private, and nonprofit organizations, strive for the provision of high-quality health and social services. Guided by sound research, relevant and timely information is available for decision-makers to prioritize policy areas of suboptimal performance. As these areas are likely to produce the most significant benefits for the community, the scarce resources are deployed with emphasis on optimizing existing services and introducing effective interventions. In these endeavors, strong collaborations between local and Dutch health organizations provide the required level of scale, adequate tools and knowledge, and sufficient financial and human resources to tackle the complex challenges our community faces.