Dili, October 19, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Ministry of Health together with the World Health Organization held a national workshop on the finalization of the Timor-Leste Essential Medical List for the fourth edition for the period 2024-2028.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister for Strengthening Health Institutions, Mr. José dos Reis Magno, conveyed his feelings towards the World Health Organization which provided support for the revision of medicines.
“The Ministry of Health of Timor-Leste greatly appreciates the support for the revision course of the essential medicines list. The Ministry expresses its gratitude to the World Health Organization for providing technical support for the revision of this very important tool. It is hoped that the essential medicines list will be useful as an instrument for health professionals,” said the Deputy Minister, Mr. José dos reis Magno at the Timor Hotel, on Friday.
He added that the members of the National Commission for the selection of medicines, medicinal products and medical equipment provided valuable orientation and approval documents, and he also thanked the Timor-Leste specialist doctors who had contributed to the revision of the list of medicines.
He said the aim of the fourth revision was to re-actualize the list to serve the people of Timor-Leste.
“The Ministry of Health is very pleased to present the fourth edition that completes the revision and actualizes the List of Essential Medicines. Medicines have an important role in the provision of health services, therefore the selection of medicines must be in accordance with the needs of the Timorese people as a fundamental and dynamic activity of the Ministry of Health.” He added.
He emphasized that the list of medicines was based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the conditions faced by the people of Timor-Leste.
“This list of medicines is compiled based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) related to the conditions faced by the people of Timor-Leste. Based on these principles and concepts, the essence of medicines is to simplify the management of medicines supplies and support an optimal logistics system, therefore in this fourth edition the List of Essential Medicines for 2024 was compiled as a result of a rigorous consultation process and input from various health professionals in this country.” He said.
On this occasion, the National Director of Pharmacy and Medical Affairs, Mr. Delfim da Costa Ferreira said, the workshop activity was to conduct final consultations for the outline of the list of essential medicines for the fourth edition.
“We held a national workshop of final consultation for the outline of the fourth edition of the essential medical list, we held it to receive the final opinions from medical specialists, hospital directors and also vertical program associations, therefore today we can obtain some of their opinions that have been prepared by the selection commission of the essential medical list.” Director, Mr. Delfim da Costa said
He said that so far the list of essential medical supplies used has been long, therefore in this fourth edition, a look will be taken at the comparative quantification plan for treatment.
“So far we only have a list of essential medicines from the old edition, now there is a need to add and issue medicines that will be used in our country must have a unique list, namely the list that we prepare to have an important function to make a comparative quantification plan, then the Ministry of Health agrees to be submitted to INFP in order to accelerate the provision.” He said.
The Director also emphasized that the new list would be a guideline for health workers at the national and post levels to regulate and utilize drugs based on their respective facilities.
“This list is to be a reference for health workers at the national level to health centers to find out which drugs are sought at the health center level, therefore it is necessary to regulate the use of drugs based on each level of facilitation, the benefit is that we do not know the health center nurses who use it are the same as specialist doctors, sometimes it is not used until the drug expires.” Said the Director
He added that the commission applies evidence to make recommendations to specialists to make medicines based on their quality and safety.
“This mechanism is implemented by the commission with scientific evidence to provide recommendations to specialist doctors who want to introduce a type of drug, then how we use the drug scientifically, they must present it to justify that the drug is safe and of good quality, so that health professionals know to use it based on privacy.” He added.
The advantage is that it can obtain input from specialist doctors so that their involvement in the entire process can be known because the outline list starts from 2021 to 2024 before this national workshop can be held.
On the other hand, Secretary of the Commission for Medical Products and Medicines, Mrs. Gejarina Gomes Fernandes said the purpose of selecting medicines is to determine which medicines will be used appropriately in Timor-Leste to see how the criteria for safety and effectiveness, their availability in the market and to see the prices of the medicines themselves.
Reported by : Estefania
Photo : Estefania