Timorese Cardiologist, Dr. Andre Monteiro, urged the Ministry of Health (MS) to purchase more cardiology equipment for the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) so he can provide better patient care to his patients suffering from heart conditions.
According to Dr. Monteiro and because he does not have access to adequate equipment he has to refer and transfer his patients overseas for treatment.
He added the national hospital is also short on specialized staff including other Timorese cardiologists.
“If we have enough Cardiologists and adequate equipment we won’t have to transfer patients overseas,” said Dr. Monteiro.
Meanwhile the Acting General Director of the HNGV, Dr. Francisco Pereira do Rego, is nonetheless proud Timor-Leste now has at least one Specialised Cardiologist and vowed to procure additional equipment and specialise additional cardiologists.
“I have already consulted them and we will be given a complete list of equipment so we can procure these out of the 2014 State Budget,” said Dr. do Rego.
He said with the Timorese cardiologist’s presence, the national hospital’s executive recommended MS to limit the contracting of foreign doctors.
“We can reduce the number of contracts we have with doctors from the Philippine and after six months we could end the remainder,” he added.
According to Minister of Health Dr. Sergio da Costa Lobo his ministry intends to establish a Cardiology and Trauma Centre at HNGV to reduce the rate of transfers of patients overseas and to save funds that can be used elsewhere.
