A significant milestone has been achieved for the Order of Malta’s medical outreach service in Timor-Leste, strengthening our ability to deliver essential healthcare to some of the country’s most remote communities.

Earlier this year, our medical clinic welcomed a new four-wheel-drive ambulance to support its outreach programme. We are now pleased to announce that the vehicle has been equipped with Starlink satellite internet, providing reliable, high-speed connectivity wherever it travels.

Maintaining stable internet access in rural Timor-Leste can be extremely challenging due to limited telecommunications infrastructure. With Starlink onboard, the ambulance can now support real-time telemedicine consultations and digital patient management systems, enabling healthcare professionals to access critical information and specialist support while working in the field.

This technological upgrade will have a direct impact on the communities we serve. Many people in Timor-Leste live in isolated areas where access to healthcare remains limited. Each month, our dedicated clinic team travels to ten remote locations, some requiring journeys of up to six hours from Dili along unsealed roads, to provide essential primary healthcare services to more than 200 patients.

By combining mobile healthcare delivery with reliable satellite connectivity, we can improve the quality, efficiency and continuity of care available to patients, regardless of their location.

This new capability represents an important step forward in our mission to bring accessible, high-quality healthcare closer to those who need it most. We are grateful to all those who have supported this initiative and helped make this advancement possible.

The Timor-Leste Medical Clinic is now a signature project overseen by Malteser International Asia Pacific (MIAP), the regional humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving local Associations and Delegations from Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia.

The Ongoing Challenge – Sustaining the Clinic

The clinic operates five days a week, providing free primary healthcare to vulnerable communities across Timor-Leste. It costs almost $19,000 each month to sustain the clinic and outreach services—around $15 per patient engagement, including consultations, medicines, vaccinations, and medical supplies.

To help ensure this vital work can continue, we invite supporters to consider becoming monthly donors. Regular giving provides the stability needed to plan services with confidence and ensure no patient is turned away.

A monthly donation of:

• $45 supports approximately 36 patient engagements per year
• $100 supports approximately 80 patient engagements per year
• $200 supports approximately 160 patient engagements per year

Every contribution makes a real difference in helping us continue providing essential healthcare to those most in need.