On October 18th, 2024, the Vice-Minister for Institutional Strengthening of Health, José dos Reis Magno, presided over the opening of the National Seminar on the revision of the List of Essential Medicines, held at the Hotel Timor. The initiative, which lasted three days, was organised by the National Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

The seminar’s main objective was to improve the quality of health services provided to the population, with the presentation of the fourth edition of the list of essential medicines, which has been revised and completely updated. This document is the result of a comprehensive consultative process involving health professionals from all over the country, reflecting current therapeutic needs and WHO recommendations. 

During his speech, Vice-Minister José dos Reis Magno emphasised the importance of continually updating the medicines available, stating that ‘medicines play an important role in the provision of health services, so it is essential to select the medicines that the Timorese people really need.’ He also emphasised that this selection was made ‘in accordance with WHO recommendations and the specificities of Timor-Leste’, maintaining that an adequate choice of essential medicines ‘will simplify the management of the supply of medicines’.

The Vice-Minister also assured that the new list of essential medicines, which is the result of a major consultative process with the country’s health professionals, ‘will be an important tool in the management of medicines throughout the territory’ and that it will be ‘used by all health care providers’. ‘The Ministry of Health will continue to promote the equitable distribution and availability of essential medicines throughout the country,’ added José dos Reis Magno. 

The seminar was attended by medical specialists, municipal health directors and other professionals from the sector.