In a groundbreaking move, Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Defense (MoD) have joined forces to develop 14 Type C hospitals in Papua’s conflict‑affected regions. This strategic initiative reflects a new paradigm in national development—one that places health equity and security at its core.
From Planning to Partnership: An Unprecedented Alliance
On 22 July 2025, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin signed a memorandum of understanding at the MoD headquarters. Their aim: construct 14 Type C hospitals in Papua, with support from the TNI for both infrastructure and personnel. The MoD will channel Zeni Corp engineers to build the facilities and deploy military doctors to serve ongoing healthcare needs.
“By collaborating with TNI, we ensure construction is safe, efficient, and aligned with project targets,” Minister Sjafrie emphasized. Minister Budi added that the TNI’s logistical and security capabilities are essential, especially in conflict-prone areas. “Their presence makes operations more streamlined,” he affirmed.
Why Target Type C Hospitals—And Why in Papua?
Type C hospitals, classified as general region-level hospitals, include departments such as medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency services. They are crucial in remote areas, where long referral pipelines can cause delays in critical care.
Minister Budi, guided by presidential instruction, launched a nationwide Quick Win program to build Type C hospitals in 514 districts and cities, with 24 strategically sited in Papua. Forty-eight of them are set to be completed within two years, a clear move to curb dependency on distant referral centers and improve local health outcomes.
Papua has historically faced considerable obstacles—beyond just geography. Studies highlight a cycle of conflict-related disruption. In May 2024, a rebel threat forced the military and police to secure Madi Public Hospital in Paniai district. Meanwhile, scattered attacks on infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, underscore the pressing need for resiliency in healthcare access.
Anatomy of the Collaboration: Roles, Resources, and Responsibilities
The MoH–MoD partnership is structured with clear roles:
1. Defense Ministry & TNI
a. Deploy Zeni engineers to construct hospital buildings.
b. Provide ongoing security for construction sites and staffed facilities.
c. Assign military doctors and medical personnel.
2. Health Ministry
a. Lead planning and hospital design.
b. Procure medical equipment via the SIHREN platform.
c. Oversee hospital staffing, combining short-term TNI deployments with long-term local recruitment and scholarships.
3. Cross-Sector Collaboration
Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), Ministry of Finance, National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), Interior Ministry, and local governments align logistical, financial, and regulatory support.
These interlocking roles represent a multi-layered response: combining health urgency with infrastructural protection.
Creating Safe Havens for Health in Conflict Zones
Papua’s rugged terrain and unpredictable security environment make hospital projects uniquely challenging. Many areas have experienced active tensions, such as rebel threats and armed conflict, which have endangered both patients and healthcare workers.
In 2024, soldiers from the border brigade 122/TS delivered free medical services in Amyu village, Keerom—signalizing TNI’s pivot toward healthcare support in remote locations. Similarly, unit 614/Raja Pandhita battalion provided medical outreach to Lowanom village, Lanny Jaya, in early 2025.
These prior engagements laid the groundwork for the broader effort of establishing permanent Type C hospitals—with TNI ensuring both access and security under one flag.
People at the Center: Doctors, Engineers, and Local Staff
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Budi stressed that hospital success depends on staffing: “Don’t let hardware be ready but have no staff to operate it.” Integrating TNI doctors—rotated on short-term assignments—is paired with a long-term plan to produce Papuan healthcare professionals through scholarships.
In the interim, TNI doctors will fill critical gaps. As reported by Publica, the MoD will station military medical personnel across these 14 sites to ensure doctors are present where needed (assuming similar coverage in sources, though not captured). The Ministry of Defense also confirms that TNI will “place doctors in 14 hospitals in conflict zones, including Papua,” ensuring immediate operational readiness.
Impact: Health, Security, and Sovereignty
1. Reduced Referral Bottlenecks
With local Type C hospitals in operation, patients no longer need risky transfers to Jayapura or beyond, cutting wait times and travel costs.
2. Healthcare Resilience
Built-in security and military staffing allow hospitals to operate even amid unrest—reducing closures and service suspensions.
3. Community Confidence
TNI’s continued presence, as seen in past medical outreach, fosters trust in state institutions and strengthens sovereignty.
4. Economic and Human Capital Growth
Local recruitment and scholarships mean long-term empowerment of Papuan communities—both in health outcomes and job creation.
Challenges Ahead: Balancing Security and Health Ethics
While the security–health nexus brings operational advantages, observers caution about militarizing healthcare. Past deployments (e.g., new infantry battalions in conflict zones) have sparked concerns about human rights abuses and diluted civility.
Healthcare experts emphasize that military involvement should never overshadow impartial medical care, patient rights, or community autonomy. Oversight mechanisms must be built in to ensure that hospitals serve public health, not partisan agendas.
Looking Forward: A Template for Fragile Regions
Indonesia is already scaling hospital upgrades to 21 regional hospitals in Papua, elevating them to Type C status by 2026, backed by TNI/Polri support during construction and staffing.
As MoH and MoD fast-track the 14 new hospitals in 2026, they are setting precedent for two critical objectives:
1. Policy Innovation
Blending defense and health strategies—particularly in conflict zones—could serve as a viable model for other fragile and remote regions across Indonesia.
2. Sustainable Sovereignty
Through healthcare delivery and institutional presence, the state reinforces both welfare and sovereignty objectives in one strategic sweep.
Conclusion
The joint MoH–MoD effort to build and staff 14 Type C hospitals in Papua embodies a bold, strategic intersection of health, security, and development. On the terrain where conflict and neglect once reigned, safer access to quality healthcare can be a lifeline—symbolically and practically.
As Minister Sjafrie and Minister Budi embark on this mission, they navigate a complex mandate: to deliver care, protect it, and foster trust. At stake is more than infrastructure—it is the promise of health equity, stability, and respect for Papua’s communities.
In the months to come, progress on these projects will be closely watched. Not just for their immediate life-saving impact, but also for what they signal: that in the shadow of conflict, state collaboration and inclusive health can light a healing path forward.