Paulina Quintao – National MP's praise the better quality of private health services, facilities and equipment in comparison with pubic health services available to the community in Timor-Leste.
National MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai said in private clinics patients are seen quickly and the quality of equipment is superior to that of public clinics.
"Private clinics provide good quality services and ensure everyone is assisted but our public clinics have limited equipment," said MP Hornai. "We have sufficient human resources but they are not being utilized adequately at the clinics where they work from."
The MP expressed concerns over this situation because doctors working for private clinics provide better health care than those in public clinics. Article 57 of RDTL's Constitution states that all Timorese have equal right to quality and free healthcare.
Meanwhile the General Director for Health Development, Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Odete Viegas acknowledged the issue but added that in private clinics patients pay for the premium services. Dr Viegas said also that the commitment of the government is to provide adequate and free health services to everyone.
"Just because doctors provide free care this does not mean that they are not professional. Every single health professional in a health facility is qualified, although each person has her or his own personal attitude," she said.She recognises that sometimes less adequate treatment happens in hospitals, perhaps because of personal issues but the ministry of health regularly reminds its health personnel to separate personal issues from their professional work.
In regards to the perceived difference in quality of medicines in private and public health facilities, Dr Viegas added that all medicines prescribed were the same and that it is up to patients to take the medicines as per doctor's instructions.
"We should trust the government especially the health centres and health posts because these are free to access," she added.
She said also the ministry would continue making efforts to improve the quality of health facilities and of human resources to provide quality and free assistance to everyone as per the constitution.