Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

.............................................................................................................................

Press Release 

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 19th, 2025

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law presented by Agio Pereira, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, on the administrative supervision regime for public bodies that are part of the State's Indirect Administration.

The Decree-Law addresses the need to standardise the exercise of supervisory powers over public institutes to ensure more efficient and coordinated management. Without prejudice to each entity's specificities, this regime establishes a common framework for government supervision, ensuring greater coherence in the actions of public institutes.

Among the main provisions, the Decree-Law defines the powers of the responsible Government member, along with a set of joint authorisations that, due to their impact on public spending, must be approved in coordination with the Ministry of Finance. Actions related to the organisation of Public Administration and participation in private entities now require the approval of the Council of Ministers, and any actions undertaken without this authorisation are deemed null and void.

Provision is also made for substitute supervision, enabling a government member to intervene in cases of serious inertia, thereby ensuring compliance with legal obligations. Breaching these rules may result in civil, criminal, disciplinary, and financial liability. To comply with the new regulations, public institutions will be granted a transition period to revise their statutes and internal legislation.

 *****

 The draft Decree-Law on the medical prescription regime presented by the Minister of Health, Elia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, was also approved. The Decree-Law aims to establish the necessary rules to guarantee the safety and efficacy of medicine prescribed to prevent malpractice and protect public health.

Among the primary measures is the mandatory prescription of medications, limited to doctors and dentists in the proper exercise of their duties. The law also establishes a maximum validity period for prescriptions and imposes restrictions on the quantity of medications prescribed.

To reinforce the control and authenticity of the prescriptions, they will be printed exclusively by the Timor-Leste National Press, guaranteeing traceability and sequential numbering. The law also provides for a system of inspection and sanctions, including fines and accessory penalties, for cases of non-compliance.

*****

Also, on a proposal from the Minister of Health, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise a US$2.46 million expenditure to carry out complementary work on the construction of the new Paediatrics and Intensive Coronary Care Unit at the Guido Valadares National Hospital. The Minister of Health was also delegated the power to sign the amendment to the contract with the company responsible for the project.

This contract amendment and the corresponding additional expense are necessary to adapt to new structural and regulatory standards, correct technical aspects identified in the design review, and implement improvements that guarantee greater efficiency and safety in the hospital infrastructure. Complementary works include installing an air conditioning system that reduces the risk of contamination, an advanced wastewater treatment system for safe reuse, and improved thermal and structural insulation.

*****

At the proposal of Minister of the Interior Francisco da Costa Guterres, the Council of Ministers approved the Government's draft Resolution, which outlines the rules for the transitional promotion of police officers from the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) in accordance with the modalities stipulated in Article 155 of the Police Statute.

*****

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, then presented the political-legislative options regarding the model for implementing polytechnic institutions in Timor-Leste.

Considering the plan to expand technical higher education in strategic areas, the options presented aim to establish a solid and effective model for managing national polytechnic institutions. The Council of Ministers endorsed the option of merging polytechnic institutes into a single structure and branching out into colleges, thus avoiding the establishment of management structures in each institute.

*****

Lastly, the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Verónica das Dores, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Social Security Institute (INSS), Arlindo Pinto, presented the Council of Ministers with the report on the Social Security Reserve Fund.

During the presentation, the nature and characteristics of the fund were explained, emphasising its evolution from the initial capital of US$151 million to the current US$233.5 million. The fund's investment policy was also elaborated upon, illustrating how resources have been allocated over time. Additionally, the INSS mobile application was introduced, a digital tool that allows users, among other features, to access information about their contribution history and simulate the value of their future pension. END