Paulina Quintao – Member of the National Parliament MP Aurelio Freitas claims services at the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) are delivered too slowly because staff spend too much looking over the shoulder or bogged down with bureaucracy.

MP Freitas added public health services delivery has declined since the V Constitutional took office resulting in patient deaths.

"We could have saved them but because of too much bureaucracy and people looking over the shoulder they have died," said MP Freitas at the National Parliament, Dili.

He added the government needs to take this issue more seriously to avoid further unnecessary deaths.

MP Freitas highlighted the case of his former driver BC who died after being admitted to the national hospital on December 9, 2014 following a traffic accident where he broke his leg and sustained head injuries.

After being admitted to the hospital some doctors said he had to treat first his head injuries but other doctors said he need leg surgery before that.

Following the surgery to the victim's leg, doctors did not notice an improvement in his condition. The victim's family then arranged for their relative to have a CT-scan done to his head, after which it was determined that he had brain hemorrhages and needed to be transferred overseas urgently. Hospital bureaucracy delayed the patient's transfer and he ended up dying.

The President Commission F (for health, education, veteran, and gender equality affairs) MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai said services delivery management at the National Hospital need to be improved.

"We have money to purchase medicines and to pay for specialist doctors but our service delivery system and attitudes are poor. We need to do better," said MP Hornai.

The MP added services delivery is poor also because some of the leaders of the health sector do not like to receive criticism and demands from the community to improve the public health system.

The meantime the Vice Minister of Health for Ethics and Services Natalia de Araujo said her ministry is cooperating with the national hospital and providing training to build the capacity of health officials.

"We need to change their attitude so they provide better health care to the community," said the Vice Minister.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/13167-health-service-woes-at-the-national-hospital