The Order of Malta Medical Clinic in Timor-Leste has reached an important milestone, providing more than 100,000 patient consultations since opening in November 2017. During the first six months of 2026 alone, our clinical and mobile outreach teams delivered 8,364 consultations to people across Dili and remote communities.

The milestone reflects the steady growth of the Order of Malta’s healthcare services in Timor-Leste and the generosity of supporters who make this work possible.

A year of significant progress

The first six months of 2026 brought a number of important developments for the Order of Malta’s healthcare program.

Expanding mobile healthcare

Funds raised through the Dili Dozen 2026 Charity Run helped establish two new mobile clinic locations, expanding the Order of Malta’s mobile outreach network from 10 to 12 active sites.

The event raised $5,705 for mobile health operations, with the support helping our teams reach even more underserved communities.

A new ambulance and telemedicine

In April, the Order of Malta acquired a new, fully equipped 4×4 ambulance, designed to cope with Timor-Leste’s challenging terrain and improve access to remote communities.

The vehicle will also incorporate Starlink satellite connectivity, opening the way for real-time telemedicine and improved communication between mobile medical teams and hospitals in Dili.

Strengthening our partnership with the Ministry of Health

In May, the Order of Malta renewed its three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health, further strengthening our long-standing partnership.

The Order also donated two ambulances to the Ministry, helping strengthen the country’s emergency medical response capacity.

Reaching vulnerable young people

A new partnership with Instituisaun Sekuler ALMA is bringing primary healthcare and health monitoring directly to students at the ALMA School.

The partnership will help young people access medical care earlier and ensure health issues can be identified and addressed before they become more serious.

 

Looking ahead

The second half of 2026 promises to be another important period for the Clinic and its outreach program.

Our priorities include:

• Completing the Starlink telemedicine rollout across all 12 mobile clinic sites
• Expanding mobile clinics into additional underserved communities in Liquiçá and Alas
• Strengthening our response to hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases
• Expanding our malnutrition program for at-risk children under five
• Growing our ambulance and emergency transport capacity
• Introducing X-ray imaging and basic laboratory services

Behind every statistic is a person: a mother receiving antenatal care, a child being treated for malnutrition, an elderly patient managing a chronic illness, or a family in a remote community receiving medical attention close to home.

The achievement of 100,000 consultations is a testament to the dedication of our medical teams and local partners — and to the generosity of the donors who have supported this work since 2017.

Healthcare where it is needed most

Between January and June 2026, our teams provided:

• 8,364 patient consultations
• 978 antenatal consultations
• Treatment and support for 264 cases of malnutrition
• Mobile outreach services across 12 locations

Our mobile clinics are particularly important in a country where many communities face significant challenges accessing healthcare. By taking medical services directly to remote villages, our teams can provide primary healthcare closer to where people live.

During the first half of 2026, a 29-member multidisciplinary medical team also travelled to the remote communities of Uma Berloik. Over two days, the team provided free healthcare to 190 vulnerable residents across four communities.

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