Patients’ families have called on the government to allocate funding to the National Hospital to provide food for accompanying relatives from the municipalities because some have no family in Dili.
Jacinto Goveia Leite’s wife is being treated at the hospital and he said it was discriminatory that the government covered the cost of food and accommodation for patients referred overseas for treatment, but not to referral patients from the municipalities.
“I am sad because they provide funding for patients sent overseas, but to the patients in the country they do not give a plate of food. What does the government think about this?” he said in the National Parliament.
However, he thanked the government for flying his wife from Covalima to the National Hospital after she experienced serious complications during childbirth.
Meanwhile, member of Commission F (responsible for health, education, culture, veterans’ affairs and gender equality) Eladio Faculto called on the relevant ministry to closely look at the issue.
“I think the government should explain its policy to respond to the situation,” he said.
Regarding overseas medical transfers, he said the government had an obligation to support patients and their family while receiving treatment outside the country.
He said while most people had family living in Dili, the problem was the high cost of living.
In response to the issue, the National Director for Hospital Support, Horacio Sarmento said the government only covered the cost of transport for in-country patient transfers and did not provide food.
“Government does not allocate a budget on the issue but in some referral hospitals, we ask to feed the family who accompany,” he said.
He said that the National Hospital had not implemented this request because of the high volume of patients and with the different diet.
For patients transferred to overseas, he said the government provided the airfare, accommodation and a daily $20 stipend for the patient and their accompanying family.
