Member of the Parliament MP Manuel Castro brought into question the work of the Ministry of Health (MoH) given the Referral Hospital of Baucau (RHB) often lacks health facilities including medicines to be given to patients in community.
MP Castro demanded the MoH explains itself given the national parliament budget allocation annually to purchase medicines.
“We visited their emergency room and doctors told us they did not have enough medicines to give patients,” said MP Castro in the plenary at the National Parliament, Dili.
Resident Anito da Costa said the problem with the unavailability of medicines is not only at the hospital of Baucau but that health facilities in Dili have medicine shortages as well.
“When we go to a health centre some of the doctors tell us to come back the week after because they have run out of medicines or they tell us to go and purchase medicines in the private drug stores,” said da Costa.
“As residents, we are extremely concerned about this issue.”
The General Director of Baucau Hospital Eugenio Soares acknowledged the issue adding via phone they lack specific items.
“It is not that all medicines are unavailable. If we didn’t have any medicines we would just send patients home,” said Director Soares.
He urged MP’s to not over generalize the real situation at the Baucau Hospital and patient health services delivery is now adequate.
