Prime Minister inaugurates Dr Daniel John Murphy’s tuberculosis treatment building in Dili
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão inaugurated, in Dili, the Dr Daniel John Murphy tuberculosis treatment building of the Bairro Pité Lanud Clinic Foundation (FCBPL – acronym in Portuguese) on Saturday, January 31st, 2026. The building was financed through a public grant from the Civil Society Support Office (GASC – acronym in Portuguese), under the supervision of the Coordinating Ministry for Social Affairs. 
The new infrastructure aims to strengthen tuberculosis treatment services, improve patient care, and strengthen the national response to the disease.
At the ceremony, the Prime Minister highlighted the dedication of the late Dr Daniel John Murphy, who devoted decades to establishing and running the Bairro Pité Clinic, and the ongoing commitment of healthcare professionals who sacrifice themselves daily to care for their patients, even without pay.
The Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation for the work of the Bairro Pité Clinic in HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns and other public health areas.
The President of the Bairro Pité Clinic Foundation, Inácio dos Santos, said that the construction of the building was made possible thanks to the support of the Prime Minister, the Vice Prime Minister for Social Affairs, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and the GASC Coordinator, Joaquim Soares Freitas, through a US$146,700 grant, with an execution rate of 98.91%.
According to the Foundation, the new building is an important step in strengthening the health infrastructure of the Bairro Pité Lanud Clinic, improving tuberculosis treatment, and supporting national efforts to eliminate tuberculosis in Timor-Leste.
Tuberculosis remains a significant public health challenge in the country. According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, Timor-Leste has one of the highest incidence rates in Southeast Asia. Despite progress in recent years, with reduced mortality and higher treatment success rates, the disease continues to have a high rate of community transmission.
The Bairro Pité Lanud Clinic Foundation, a partner of the Ministry of Health for around two decades, has played an important role in the detection and treatment of tuberculosis, treating more than 8,000 patients since 2010, in addition to providing care in other areas, such as HIV, oncology, maternal health, dental care, and outpatient consultations.
The Foundation's Chairman reaffirmed his commitment to using the new building to strengthen primary care for tuberculosis treatment, increase case detection, and reduce unnecessary transfers to the Guido Valadares National Hospital.
The ceremony concluded with acknowledgements to the 9th Constitutional Government and all the entities that supported the project's implementation, as well as a tribute to Dr Daniel John Murphy for his legacy in healthcare in Timor-Leste.
