The Ministry of Health will purchase eight new ambulances using money allocated under the State General Budget (OJE) 2014.
The ambulances will support health staff to move emergency patients requiring intensive treatment from health centres to referral hospital.
MS Sergio da Costa Lobo said some health centres had no ambulances at current as their vehicles had been damaged.
“This year we will buy eight more ambulances to support the patients who need emergency treatment,” said Minister Lobo in National Parliament.
He said the ambulance shortage and their maintenance was a concern of the Ministry which was now preparing a guide about the usage of ambulances.
The guide will be completed in March.
The Ministry of Health will work with the Ministry of Public Works to upgrade airfields at Viqueque and Atauro to facilitate air transfers for emergency patients in those areas not easily accessible from Dili.
Lobo said last year the Ministry of Health bought 15 ambulances, including multi-function cars which are yet to arrive in Timor-Leste.
Member of Parliament Josefa Alvares Soares called on the Ministry to execute the budget properly as in 2012, the health minister cancelled the planned purchase of ambulances and instead bought motorcycles for doctors.
“I hope that there is discipline in the execution of the budget this year and they do not buy motorbikes like last year,” the Fretilin MP said.
