The administrative council of the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) will shortly implement a new attendance system which will see patients prioritized in order of need. 
Clinic Director Doctor Aniceto Maia said the new system will see patients who present at HNGV with minor ailments such as flu, fevers and coughs, sent to health centers.
Dr. Maia said HNGV staff’s ability to attend to patients needing emergency medical care was hindered by the influx of patients with non-urgent health concerns.
“(Patients with) diseases such as runny noses, coughs, and fevers shouldn’t come to the emergency room. It’s for emergency cases that require medics’ intervention,” he said.
He said the problem was caused by people’s lack of understanding about what constituted a medical emergency.
Dr Maia said patients needed to have the meaning of emergency medicine explained to them.
Minister for Health Sergio da Costa Lobo vowed the government would this year reinforce the work of the health centers around the country, in particular within Dili, in order to reduce the number of patients at HNGV.
“We will reinforce the work of the health centers this year to prioritize attendance to the population,” Lobo said.
MP Ilda Maria da Conceição said she agreed with the patient priority system.
“There’s a need to raise awareness to the communities, especially in the health centers, so they can understand the function of the emergency room,” she said.
