Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on August 29th, 2023

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved two draft Decree-Laws, presented by the Minister of Health, Elia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, aiming at the following:

• Establishing the National Institute of Pharmacy and Medical Products (FPM – acronym in Portuguese). Based in Dili Municipality and with jurisdiction throughout the country, the FPM, which succeeds the Autonomous Service for Medicines and Health Equipment, I.P., is the public institute responsible for supplying pharmaceutical products and medical equipment to the National Health Service. To this end, it may acquire, namely by import, pharmaceutical products and medical equipment, produce pharmaceutical products and medical equipment, ensure quality control of the goods acquired or produced by the institute and ensure best practices in storage and distribution to the National Health Service, and their resale to pharmacies and private national health units, when necessary.

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• Approving the Medical Assistance Abroad Scheme. This Decree-Law aims to adapt the Medical Assistance Abroad Scheme to the country’s current reality, as well as to current practices. Therefore, concepts are clarified and harmonised with current legislative practices, and the line of action of the various parties involved in medical assistance procedures abroad is clarified and reduced, avoiding redundancies and unnecessary acts to ensure faster and more effective medical assistance.

The decree-law provides for the right to medical assistance abroad for beneficiaries of the National Health Service who are residents in Timor-Leste and also covers situations in which the beneficiary is temporarily abroad, as long as they are in the service of the State and need urgent medical assistance that is incompatible with a delay in returning to Timor-Leste. It is stipulated that patients can only benefit from medical assistance abroad if they are being accompanied by a doctor from and within the National Health Service. Proposals for medical assistance abroad that originate from institutions that are not part of the National Health Service are not acceptable.

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The Council of Ministers approved the timetable for preparing the 2024 General State Budget, presented by the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso.

According to the approved timetable, annual and multi-annual activities will be identified and defined by September 7^th. The Budget Days seminar will take place on September 8^th, and on September 13^th, the Council of Ministers will approve the budget ceiling. The line ministries must finalise their budget proposals by September 29^th, to be examined by the Budget Review Committee on October 20^th. After the necessary adjustments to the sectoral proposals, the 2024 General State Budget Law Proposal is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers on October 31^st and submitted to the National Parliament on November 15^th.

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The draft Decree-Law presented by Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares, approving the Ministry of Education’s organic law, was approved.

The Ministry of Education is the Government department responsible for policy’s designing, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, on education and qualification at all levels of education, excluding higher education, and the consolidation and promotion of official languages.

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Also presented by the Minister of Education, the draft Government Resolution to extend the mandate of the Comité Orientador 25 (Steering Committee) was approved.

Given the importance of continuing the mandate of the Comité Orientador 25 (Steering Committee) and completing the work of researching, analysing and preparing the Book of the History of Youth and Student Resistance in Timor-Leste, the Government decided to extend the mandate of Comité Orientador 25 (Steering Committee) for a further five years. The expenses and costs arising from pursuing the Comité Orientador 25 (Steering Committee) duties are subject to the regime applicable to granting public subsidies attributable to the funds entered in the annual budget of the Ministry of Education. This Government Resolution shall take effect retroactively from January 9^th, 2022.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by Minister José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, approving the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture’s organic law.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture is the Government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on higher education and qualifications, as well as science and technology.

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Also approved was the draft Decree-Law, presented by Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, approving the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ organic law.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on transport and communications.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by Minister Filipus Nino Pereira, approving the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s organic law.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is the government department responsible for policy’s designing, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on commercial and industrial economic activities.

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Also approved was the draft Decree-Law, presented by Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino, approving the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing’s organic law.

The Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for the areas linked to improving living conditions, opportunities and accessibility in rural areas, developing initiatives to promote the diversification of activities and job creation in rural areas, to consolidate their productive fabric.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by Minister Francisco da Costa Guterres, approving the Ministry of Interior’s organic law.

The Ministry of the Interior is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on internal security, migration and asylum, border control, civil protection, road safety and police cooperation.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, approving the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture’s organic law.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on youth, sports, arts and culture.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by Minister Gastão Francisco de Sousa, approving the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment’s organic law.

The Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on promoting the country’s economic and social development through strategic and integrated planning and the rationalisation of available financial resources, assuming specific responsibilities for the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan.

 

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Finally, the draft Decree-Law presented by Minister Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, approving the Ministry of Finance’s organic law, was approved.

 The Ministry of Finance is the government department responsible for policy’s design, implementation, coordination and evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers on planning, annual monitoring and evaluation, the General State Budget and public finances. ENDS