Pereira told a media session that several Timor-Leste health facilities faced shortages of essential medicine.

He did not confirm what medicine was in short supply but said the emergency supplies scheduled to arrive this week had been sourced in December 2022 with assistance of United Nations Development Program.

“The problem of the lacking medicines in the health facilities is currently still happening in the country despite the efforts of Ministry of Health making an emergency purchase,” Pereira said.

Pereira said the Ministry of Health’s objective is and remains to secure access to medicine for all patients in need and to avoid any supply issues in Timor-Leste.

Shortages of antibiotics have been reported in over 26 European countries, the European Medicines Agency reported 18 January.

Santana Martins, Executive Director of the the Autonomy Medicines Services and Health Equipment’s ( SAMES) told reporters on Friday the country only had 69% of its usual essential medicine supply.