Wamena – The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is promoting equitable health care throughout Indonesia, especially in Papua, to improve public health services.
Ghotama Airlangga, Director of Referral Health Services Facilities at the Ministry of Health, stated in a written statement in Wamena on Thursday that health services should be equitable across Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke.
“The Ministry of Health’s future program is to provide equitable health care throughout the country, especially in Papua, which is currently divided into six provinces,” he said.
According to Airlangga, to ensure healthcare coverage throughout Indonesia, his ministry is facilitating collaboration between all regional public hospitals (RSUD) in the Papua Highlands with major hospitals in Indonesia to treat cancer, heart disease, stroke, uronephrology, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, pre-existing intestinal infections (EIDs), diabetes mellitus, gastrohepatology, mental health, and eye diseases.
“We hope that in the future, healthcare services for heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses will no longer be taken outside of Highland Papua, but will be handled here,” he said.
He explained that the program to equalize health care across Indonesia is being implemented through the patronage method, or supporting healthcare workers in Highland Papua, so they can handle chronic diseases.
“We are very grateful that this patronage program was welcomed by the Governor of Highland Papua, so that healthcare services in Highland Papua will continue to improve and advance,” he said.
He added that eight regional general hospitals (RSUD) in Highland Papua will have their accreditation upgraded from class D to C to encourage optimal healthcare services.
“Class C hospitals generally serve as referral centers for community health centers (Puskesmas). These facilities provide more comprehensive specialist medical services, particularly in the four basic specialties: internal medicine (including cardiology), pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology,” he said.
