DILI, 25 November 2025 (TATOLI) – Thirty Timorese doctors travelled yesterday to Cuba to pursue specialization courses under the scholarship program provided by the Ministry of Health (MS). The information was released by the Director-General of Policy, Planning, Cooperation, and Health Development, Narciso Fernandes.
According to the official, out of 166 applicants for the program, 16 doctors had initially been selected. However, after securing additional funding for scholarships, the ministry decided to include 14 more professionals.
“We decided to increase the number of scholarship recipients going to Havana, including three members of the National Police of Timor-Leste who also serve in the health sector,” Narciso Fernandes told Tatoli.
He further stated that next year, the Ministry of Health will offer scholarships for health professionals to study in the Fiji Islands.
The Minister of Health, Élia Amaral, who attended the farewell ceremony for the scholarship recipients, emphasized that the sector continues to face a shortage of professionals, particularly specialists, and assured that strengthening human resources in health will remain one of the ministry’s priorities.
The scholarship recipients will specialize in areas such as nephrology, neurosurgery, cranial surgery, orthopaedics, vascular surgery, and internal medicine.
Journalist: Ivonia da Silva
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
