Paulina Quintao – Prohibitive repair costs mean six ambulances will remain out of action, according to national director of hospital support services Horacio Sarmento da Costa.

More than 44 ambulances are operating across Timor-Leste's 13 districts with further 12 working in the districts to transport emergency patients.

"Many ambulances are out of order," da Costa said. "Some are in the garage being repaired and six can't be fixed because it will cost too much money."

He said the Ministry of Health purchased 16 new ambulances this year which are currently being fitted with radios and other necessary equipment.

Member of Parliament Domingas Alves da Silva, alias Bilou Mali, called on the health ministry to allocate more money to the repair of ambulances. He said ambulances had been out of service for up to three years at a time.

"The Ermera health centre has four ambulances malfunctioning and two are out of service," he said. "It makes work very difficult."

The member of Commission F (education, health, culture, veterans' affairs and gender equality) said a lack of reliable transport was a big hindrance to the provision of quality health care in rural areas.

Health Minister Sergio da Costa Lobo said the ministry initially wanted to centralize vehicle maintenance but ran into difficulties as 13 vehicles operate solely in the districts.

Minister Lobo also voiced concerns about poor road infrastructure which caused damage to vehicles. He said $500 was allocated to the districts for vehicle maintenance.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/12864-out-of-service-ambulances-go-to-waste