Indonesia expands healthcare access across Papua region

Wamena (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health is stepping up efforts to improve equitable access to healthcare services across the country, particularly in the Papua region, as part of a broader initiative to enhance medical care for local communities.

In a written statement issued in Wamena on Thursday, Director of Referral Healthcare Facilities at the Ministry of Health, Ghotama Airlangga, said healthcare services should be evenly accessible throughout Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke.

"The ministry's priority going forward is to ensure equitable healthcare services across the country, especially in Papua, which is now divided into six provinces," he said.

To expand access to quality healthcare, the ministry is facilitating partnerships between all regional public hospitals (RSUDs) in Highland Papua Province and major hospitals across Indonesia.

The collaboration will strengthen the treatment of major diseases and medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, urology and nephrology disorders, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, gastroenterology and hepatology, mental health, and eye diseases.

Airlangga said the initiative aims to ensure that patients requiring treatment for heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses can receive care within Highland Papua rather than being referred outside the province.

"We hope that in the future, patients with heart disease, stroke, or other severe illnesses will no longer need to be transferred outside Highland Papua, as these conditions will be treatable here," he said.

He explained that the healthcare equalization program includes a mentorship scheme under which medical professionals and specialist hospitals provide guidance and support to healthcare workers in Highland Papua, enabling them to manage more complex and chronic diseases.

"We are grateful that Governor of Highland Papua has welcomed this mentorship program, which we believe will significantly improve healthcare services in the province," Airlangga said.

He added that eight regional public hospitals in Highland Papua are set to have their accreditation upgraded from Class D to Class C to strengthen healthcare delivery.

Class C hospitals generally serve as referral centers for community health clinics and provide a broader range of specialist medical services, particularly in four core specialties: internal medicine, including cardiology, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

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Translator: Yudhi, Azis Kurmala

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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