In a landmark step to improve public health infrastructure and reduce health disparities in eastern Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has announced the accelerated development of 24 Type-C hospitals across Papua and West Papua. This initiative is part of the government’s long-term commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare for all citizens, especially in remote and underserved regions.
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who made the announcement during a working visit to Jayapura, stated that the hospitals would be built over the next two years and are expected to dramatically expand medical access for Papuan communities who have long faced logistical and systemic barriers to basic healthcare.
“This is a strategic effort to bring healthcare closer to the people of Tanah Papua,” Minister Budi said. “We are building these hospitals not only for treatment, but also as centers for prevention, education, and community empowerment.”
Transforming Papua’s Healthcare Landscape
Type-C hospitals are classified as general hospitals capable of providing inpatient and outpatient services with at least four core medical specialties: internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics-gynecology. For Papua, this development means that more people in rural and inland regions will no longer need to travel hundreds of kilometers to reach quality medical care.
The 24 hospitals will be strategically located across various regencies, including difficult-to-reach areas such as Pegunungan Bintang, Asmat, Yahukimo, Tolikara, and Intan Jaya—regions that currently rely heavily on limited clinics or mobile health posts.
“This is not just infrastructure; this is justice,” said Dr. Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, Director General of Public Health Services. “For too long, the people of Papua have had to accept the minimum. With these hospitals, we are delivering the maximum commitment of the state.”
Bridging the Health Gap in Remote Areas
Health disparities in Papua remain among the most severe in the country. Infant and maternal mortality rates are significantly higher than the national average, and access to basic services such as immunizations, emergency care, and childbirth facilities is still limited.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, has devised an integrated development model. Each hospital will be equipped with modern medical facilities, emergency units, operating theaters, maternity wards, and digital health systems to enable telemedicine and remote consultation.
The project also includes training programs for local health workers, with the goal of ensuring that each facility is staffed by competent doctors, nurses, and specialists—many of whom will be Papuan graduates from newly supported medical schools and scholarship programs.
Strong Local and National Support
The hospital construction initiative has been warmly welcomed by local governments, traditional leaders, and community health organizations across Papua.
Governor of Papua Mountain Province, Velix Wanggai, expressed strong support:
“This program will change the face of healthcare in Papua. It will reduce delays in treatment, improve birth outcomes, and most importantly, restore confidence among Papuans in government services.”
Community leaders also recognize the broader impact of these hospitals on education and economic development. When families no longer have to worry about traveling for treatment or losing loved ones to preventable diseases, they can focus more on livelihoods, schooling, and long-term well-being.
Progressive Approach to Equitable Development
The construction of 24 Type-C hospitals is aligned with the national “Health Transformation Agenda,” which prioritizes preventive care, health technology, and health system equity. Under this vision, Papua is not seen as a marginal territory, but as a priority zone for innovation and impact.
The initiative is also seen as a breakthrough in inclusive development policy, as it addresses longstanding structural neglect with concrete, measurable action. Health Minister Budi emphasized that Papua deserves the same standard of care as Java or Sumatra, and that closing this gap is a matter of national integrity.
The hospital project will also include collaboration with Indonesian universities, NGOs, and international health partners to ensure that capacity-building, maintenance, and service standards are maintained over time.
Looking Ahead: Building Hope Through Health
While challenges remain—such as recruitment of health professionals willing to serve in remote areas, ensuring sustainable funding, and managing logistics in difficult terrains—the mood among Papuans is increasingly hopeful.
One village health volunteer in Asmat summed it up:
“We used to dream of a hospital nearby. Now the government is not just listening—they are building.”
By 2027, once all 24 hospitals are operational, the government hopes to reduce maternal mortality in Papua by 40%, increase childhood immunization coverage to over 90%, and cut emergency referral times in half.
In the words of one senior official from the Ministry of Health, “This is how we define sovereignty—not just through borders and flags, but by ensuring every child in Papua can be born safely, every mother cared for, and every person treated with dignity.”
Conclusion
The construction of 24 Type-C hospitals in Papua marks a transformative moment in Indonesia’s health and development strategy. It is a powerful expression of national solidarity, bringing essential medical services to the farthest reaches of the archipelago. For the people of Papua, it represents not just access to care—but a renewed promise of equality, hope, and a healthier future.
