DILI, 09 July 2025 (TATOLI) – The National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) will administer the rabies vaccine only in emergency cases due to a nationwide supply shortage, hospital officials confirmed.
Vidal de Jesus Lopes, Director of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support Services at HNGV, said the hospital currently has no rabies vaccine in stock.
“HNGV has no supply of rabies vaccines at the moment. But if needed, we will request some units from the INFPM,” Lopes told TATOLI in Dili.
He added that the limited availability at the National Institute of Pharmacy and Medical Products (INFPM) means only 300 doses remain in the country.
As a result, vaccination will be prioritized for emergency situations—particularly for people who have been bitten by dogs.
Last month, INFPM announced it would request assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) to obtain more rabies vaccine doses in response to the growing number of cases.
Meanwhile, the National Directorate of Veterinary Services under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry reported that since January it has vaccinated 1,575 dogs in Bobonaro, Covalima, Dili, Ermera, Liquiçá, and Oé-Cusse.
Since last year, veterinary officials have recorded 103 rabies cases in dogs across these regions.
According to the Ministry of Health, seven people have passed away from rabies this year.
TATOLI
