Dili, August 3, 2026 (Media Democracia) – East Timor Eye Program Institute (IETEP) from Australia Delivers Vitrectomy Machine to HNGV to Reduce Patient Transfers Abroad.
The East Timor Eye Program Institute (IETEP) from Australia delivered a Vitrectomy machine to the Department of Ophthalmology at the Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) on Monday (03/08), to strengthen treatment services for patients who suffer from eye diseases. This modern equipment will allow the medical team to perform operations in the country, so it can reduce the need to refer patients for treatment abroad and improve the quality of health services in Timor-Leste.
Eye Specialist in the Department of Ophthalmology at Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV), Dr. Valerio Andrade, said that the Vitrectomy machine just delivered by the East Timor Eye Program Institute (IETEP) will be important equipment to treat patients who suffer from vitreoretinal problems, and can reduce patient transfers abroad.
Dr. Valerio explained that he himself attended training on the use of this machine last year, but until now HNGV did not have the capacity to buy the equipment with its own budget.
“With the help of this machine, we can reduce the number of patients who suffer from vitreoretinal problems. Before, the hospital did not have this machine, so we could not do retina surgery in the country.” said Dr. Valerio Andrade to journalists at the HNGV Hall on Friday (31/07).
He added that the support from the East Timor Eye Program Institute allows HNGV to start doing retina treatment in Timor-Leste, which will bring great benefits to patients and reduce the need to send patients for treatment overseas.
“Every month the National Eye Center transfers four to five patients abroad for retina surgery. The cost for one patient can reach 30 thousand US dollars. If in one or two months we transfer 10 patients, the budget spent is very big. With this machine, the hospital only needs to provide the consumables, and support for consumables will continue to come from donors.” he said.
Dr. Valerio also asked the HNGV leadership to pay close attention to the maintenance of the machine, so the equipment can function well and continue to provide services to patients.
He said that just this week, the Department of Ophthalmology registered 20 patients waiting for surgery, and the team managed to perform surgery on 10 patients with good results.
“The patients will come back for check-up next week. Now we can perform surgery ourselves for simple cases, but for complicated cases we will still need support from specialist teams. Most of the patients who need retina surgery are aged 60 and below, who are still in their productive age.” he explained.
On the same occasion, Founder of the East Timor Eye Program Institute (IETEP), Prof. Dr. Nitin Verma, said that when they started this program several years ago, he did not think that Timor-Leste would have a Vitrectomy machine.
“Because of friendship, cooperation and support from partners around the world, today we managed to deliver this high-value Vitrectomy machine. Therefore, we ask HNGV staff to take good care of this equipment so it can continue to be used for patient treatment and reduce transfers abroad.” said Prof. Dr. Nitin Verma.
The Minister of Health, Élia dos Reis Amaral, on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste expressed gratitude to the East Timor Eye Program Institute and Prof. Dr. Nitin Verma for the continued support for eye health services in Timor-Leste.
“Since 2000, IETEP has continued to support the eye health program. Today we received a Vitrectomy machine for the HNGV Department of Ophthalmology to perform surgery on our brothers and sisters who suffer from retina problems.” said the Minister.
She said that previously most retina patients had to be transferred abroad for surgery, but with this new equipment, the Government hopes that transfers will be significantly reduced.
The Minister of Health also informed that currently a medical team from Australia continues to support eye treatment in the municipalities, and this program will be expanded to referral hospitals in the future.
Regarding human resources, the Minister acknowledged that the Ministry of Health still faces limitations, but has a clear plan to increase the capacity of specialist doctors.
“The Ministry of Health will work together with Eye Institutes in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Fiji to train human resources. Right now there are six eye specialists in the HNGV Department of Ophthalmology. In the future the Government will send more doctors to study abroad to prepare for expanding services to the municipalities.” concluded Minister of Health Élia dos Reis Amaral.
Report By: Tomás dos Santos
Photo: Tomás dos Santos