DILI, 01 february 2026 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão on saturday inaugurated a new tuberculosis treatment building at the Bairro Pité Clinic (CBP) in Dili, as Timor-Leste continues efforts to curb one of the highest TB incidence rates in Southeast Asia.
The facility, named the Dr Daniel John Murphy Building, was constructed with public funding provided through the Office for the Support of Civil Society (GASC) under the 2025 State Budget.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Gusmão praised the clinic’s longstanding contribution to public healthcare and stressed that safeguarding public health is not solely the government’s responsibility.
“The health of the people is not only the responsibility of the Government, but of everyone who can contribute,” he said.
He also paid tribute to the clinic’s founder, Dr Daniel John Murphy, commending his dedication to healthcare in Timor-Leste and describing his work as an example for medical professionals.
According to the prime minister, medicine should be viewed as a humanitarian mission rather than merely a profession.
He emphasised that the way patients are treated plays a crucial role in easing suffering, even when recovery is not possible.
Inácio dos Santos, President of the CBP Foundation, said the new building represents a significant improvement in the institution’s infrastructure and will enhance the quality of tuberculosis treatment.
Tuberculosis remains a highly contagious disease and continues to cause substantial mortality worldwide.
In Timor-Leste, around 1,000 people die from the disease each year, he said.
Despite the challenges, Santos highlighted notable progress. Through the Ministry of Health and the National Tuberculosis Programme, implemented in partnership with various institutions, Timor-Leste reduced its TB mortality rate by more than 55% between 2015 and 2023. Treatment success rates have also increased to 95%.
However, the 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report, released in october last year, indicates that Timor-Leste still ranks second in Southeast Asia for TB incidence, with an estimated 498 cases per 100,000 people.
In 2023 alone, 6,171 TB cases were reported across the country’s health facilities. More than 51% of those cases were classified as high risk for transmission, particularly within households and among close contacts.
Santos added that the CBP Foundation has partnered with the Ministry of Health for nearly two decades in combating tuberculosis.
Since 2010, the foundation has contributed to the detection and treatment of 8,341 TB cases, supporting national efforts aimed at eliminating the disease.
The new facility is expected to strengthen those efforts by improving diagnosis, treatment capacity and patient care in the capital.
TATOLI
