Health Minister Sergio da Costa Lobo said his Ministry will create a mobile diagnostic unit that will provide diagnostic services to the community across the country in particular those living in remote areas.
Minister Lobo said also currently all diagnostic services; including X-ray and USG ultrasound scans are done at the national and referral hospitals given that is where the machines are located.
“The remote districts will have a diagnostics unit that will be conducted from inside a car complete with X-ray and ultrasound equipment as well as a laboratory. The car will travel across the entire territory every month to service communities,” Minister Lobo said during a public audience at the Plenary of the National Parliament in Dili.
“The results are then sent via the internet to specialists at the national level to be analysed.”
The Minister added in 2014 his ministry will set up permanent diagnostic units in six other districts.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament (MP) Olinda Morais said she is disappointed with the work of Health Ministry because currently pregnant women have to travel to the national hospital for their USG ultrasound scans.
The MP said also she is also disappointed with the diagnostics service at the Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) because in many instances results are sent out from the national hospital to private clinics to be analysed with hefty costs.
On the other hand MP Eladio Faculto said he appreciates the novel initiative of a mobile diagnostic unit that he hopes will be implemented because it will benefit those living in rural areas.
“We cannot just talk about creating a mobile diagnostics unit. We have to actually implement it so that we can have a look at the results of the program.”
