FUNDASAUN CLINICA BAIRO-PITE LANUD (FCBPL)

Dr. Daniel Murphy received his medical degree from the University of Iowa and spent six years working alongside César Chávez at a clinic for farm workers, where he was instrumental in initiating legislation against pesticide abuse. Early in his career, he trained doctors in Mozambique and worked in Laos and Nicaragua.

In September 1998, Dr. Murphy began working in Timor-Leste — then East Timor — while it was still under Indonesian military occupation. Forced out after a few months, he returned in September 1999 with an unwavering commitment: to provide free, essential healthcare for the poor and underprivileged people of Timor-Leste through the Bairo Pite Clinic.

He set up his first makeshift clinic in an abandoned Indonesian military building in the Dili suburb of Bairo Pite. His first patients were sick women, children, and Timorese rebels who had suffered gunshot wounds, machete injuries, and torture.

Under his leadership, the clinic grew into a comprehensive community health service — training more than 1,000 medical students, 40 nurses, 26 midwives, and 26 lay-midwives serving remote villages. With a team of 70 Timorese staff and volunteers, the clinic saw about 50+ outpatients daily, delivered more than 110 babies each month, and conducted 400 mobile clinics in remote mountain villages. Care has always remained free of charge.