West Papua is often seen as the last frontier.
While the population is the lowest compare to other provinces, healthcare is still an important aspect to be develope.
Various challenges inhibit health research and development in West Papua. However, it doesn’t stop various development from being establish.
Healthcare Development in West Papua
In 2021, the Indonesian government was able to establish 14 hospitals and 154 public health centers.
In recent years, initiatives have been perform to build new hospitals, clinics, and community healthcare centers. Efforts to increase the number of healthcare workers are also conducted.
In 2022, the regional government of West Papua reiterate its commitment to ensuring health insurance for all citizens through the National Health Insurance Program or JKN.
99.07% of citizens of West Papua have become participants in this insurance.
In 2022, the Health Ministry also mentioned the intention to prepare the West Papua Provincial Public Hospital (RSUP) as the national-standard referral hospital for heart, stroke, kidney, and cancer patients.
In 2 years, the ministry will issue a decree for the appointment of this hospital as a referral hospital for these four diseases.
The hospital will be prepare for other healthcare treatments, such as maternal and child treatments, especially dystocia or obstruct labor.
This preparation includes changing the operational permit from class C to class B and preparing supporting facilities, equipment, and human resources.
Implementation of Telemedicine in West Papua
In 2017, the Ministry of Health launched telemedicine called TEMENIN. This is a free application to deliver health care services from a long distance using an online system.
In this system, a patient can come to the public health center. Then, using a computer, a nurse will connect the health center to the reference hospital.
Once connected, the doctor will diagnose and provide instructions and medical prescriptions to the patient via teleconference.
Finally, the paramedics at the local health center will be the ones who perform the instruction from the doctor while being supervise by the professional doctor from the reference hospital.
The Sorong Hospital has become the reference hospital in West Papua.
A few health centers are supported by this hospital, such as Raja Ampat District Hospital in Waigeo Island, Sausapor Public Health Center, and Oransbari Public Health Center.
Telemedicine help address the healthcare providers’ shortage.
With this remote solution, doctors and other medical professionals will be able. To provide consultations and advice to patients without having to travel far away to each location.
Therefore, the patient will be able to receive the necessary help without having to travel to a referral hospital.
Papua Health Research and Development Center
Despite the challenges, numerous advances in health research and development in West Papua have been conduct in the region to improve healthcare outcomes.
For example, Malaria research was conduct to develop new strategies to prevent. And control the spread of this disease, as this region has the highest incidence of malaria in Indonesia.
Due to high maternal and infant mortality, maternal and child health has become one of the focuses of health research in West Papua.
The research is conduct to find strategies to improve maternal and infant outcomes.
As local people in West Papua still rely a lot on traditional medicine.
Research was conduct to document traditional plants used as medicine and find their potential health benefits.
Due to its geographical location, West Papua has several challenges in healthcare services.
However, various development and research are conduct to ensure the availability and better healthcare service in this region.