Staff at the Ministry of Health acknowledge they still lack ambulances in many health facilities because a lot of ambulances are around 10 years old and already damaged.
The National Director of Hospital Work Support and Guidance in the Ministry of Health, Horacio Sarmento da Costa, said in each district there are six badly damaged ambulances and only four are in the maintenance phase.
According to him, the ambulances are used for multiple functions, both to transport sick patients and to carry health personnel to give assistance to the community through the SISKA program.
He said in a short time they would approach mechanics to do maintenance on damaged ambulances in the districts, with the priority being Manufahi and Ermera districts as they are in such a bad condition there is only one vehicle operating.
“We have a plan to put the budget this year towards responding to the problem of ambulances in the entire territory,” said Director Sarmento in Kaikoli, Dili.
He also said there were some staff who used the multifunction cars or ambulances to carry dried wood, but it was difficult to identify which cars and which districts.
“I saw this for myself but it’s difficult to identify which vehicle because the letters have disappeared,” said Director Sarmento.
On the other hand, the President of Commission F (for health, education, veterans and equality) Virgilio da Costa Hornai said ambulances were a big problem as there’s been no maintenance.
He added the problem is the approval system is bureaucratic, and in reality ambulances from the districts have to go to the capital for maintenance.
“In terms of conditions this is problem that hinders the approval system, which is very bureaucratic, and it impacts the work of the hospital, especially the transfer of patients from health facilities,” said MP Hornai.
