The government through the Health Ministry transferred 130 patients abroad between January and August this year as the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (NHGV) was unable to provide the necessary treatment.
The National Director responsible for hospital equipment, medication and overseas treatment, Horacio Sarmento, said the majority of patients suffered from heart or kidney problems, or had been diagnosed with tumors or cancer.
He acknowledged that although Timor-Leste had medical specialists, it lacked proper facilities and equipment.
“We have 10 blood transfusion machines to treat kidney patients, but we have a high number of patients, therefore we need to send some overseas,” he said.
Regarding the criteria for receiving treatment in overseas, he said the decision was based on patients’ health status and the hospital’s ability to send the patient abroad.
He said Timor-Leste had an agreement with the health ministries in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Of the 130 patients transferred abroad, in 97% of cases (126 people) the surgery was successful, with just 3% (4 people) dying.
This year the National Parliament allocated $2.9 million for the treatment of patients abroad, although Sarmento said this was insufficient.
He said the directorate had requested that the government provide more funding to treat patients overseas as $2.6 million of the budget had already been spent.
Some of the funds were also used to pay off outstanding debts accrued last year from transferring patients overseas for treatment.
In 2015, the Ministry of Health sent more than 370 patients overseas for treatment, most of which had been diagnosed with cancer or tumors and heart and kidney problems.
The previous constitutional government did not follow through on a commitment to boost human resources at the National Hospital, as well as establish and equip oncology and cardiology units, in order to reduce the number of patients referred overseas.
NHGV General Director Dr Jose Antonio acknowledged the hospital was unable to treat patients suffering serious conditions such as cancer, tumors or heart disease and kidney problems due to the limitations in human resources.
He said the 10 blood transfusion machines at the hospital was not enough to meet demand and therefore some patients had to be transferred overseas for treatment.
Although Timor has cancer specialists, he said the hospital did not have the capacity to provide radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
