Member of the National Parliament (MP) Inacio Moreira has lamented the state of the emergency room at the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV), with overcrowding leading to patients pushing each other as they compete for the little space available. 
MP Moreira said emergency room patients are often forced to stand for three hours before they are seated and attended to by health staff.
“I just stand and cradle my baby with dengue; waiting from 08:00 till 12:00 as there is no space to place my baby. It shouldn’t be like that,” MP Moreira said at National Parliament.
The Fretilin MP said the problem was caused as the government lacked a cohesive health plan, focusing on building multi-story building instead of addressing people’s basic health needs.
HNGV director, Doctor Aniceto Maia, said while problems did exist, patients requiring urgent attention were not forced to stand in the emergency room and efforts were made by staff to ensure patients were comfortable as they waited for assistance.
He said patients with minor ailments such as flus, coughs, fevers and headaches were required to stand in line as those who required emergency treatment were prioritized.
“If they have said they just stand in the emergency room, I think this isn’t true. The patients who stand are those with common diseases,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Health had worked to provide extra beds and health staff at all health centers in Dili, including at the Vera Cruz Health Centre which was established with the aim of decreasing the number of patients at HNGV.
