The Indonesian Health Ministry is strengthening eight regional hospitals in Papua Pegunungan (Highland Papua) Province to expand access to treatment for 11 key health services, a programme designed to bring more specialist care closer to communities in one of the country’s most geographically challenging regions. Through a national hospital mentorship scheme, specialist referral hospitals are working with local facilities to improve medical skills, service management, referral systems and equipment, with the broader goal of reducing the need for patients to seek treatment far from home.
The initiative brings together the central government, the provincial administration, the governments of eight regencies and a network of national and regional referral hospitals. The Ministry of Health’s National Mentoring Hospital Coordinator, Dr Eniarti, said the programme forms part of Indonesia’s health-system transformation, particularly efforts to strengthen referral services and make quality care more evenly available across the country.
The programme is intended to address a practical problem for families in Papua Pegunungan: serious illness can require specialist expertise, diagnostic equipment and hospital services that are not always readily available close to where patients live. Distance, mountainous terrain and transport expenses can add pressure to households already dealing with the emotional and financial burden of illness.
By building the capacity of regional hospitals, the government aims to create a stronger local foundation for treating priority conditions. The work will take time, however. Before patients can consistently benefit, reliable staffing, maintenance, medicines, and effective clinical systems must accompany mentoring, specialist training, and equipment provision.
Eight Regional Hospitals Join the Programme
The eight public regional hospitals (RSUD) selected for the programme serve the province’s eight regencies. They are RSUD Wamena in Jayawijaya, RSUD Er Dabi in Yalimo, RSUD Karubaga in Tolikara, RSUD Oksibil in Pegunungan Bintang, RSUD Lukas Enembe in Mamberamo Tengah, RSUD Nduga, RSUD Dekai in Yahukimo and RSUD Tiom in Lanny Jaya.
The provincial government has described the partnership as an important step in improving health services following the establishment of Papua Pegunungan as a new autonomous province. Governor John Tabo said cooperation with the Health Ministry and experienced hospitals could help residents obtain treatment within their own regencies rather than routinely travelling elsewhere.
“Bagi kami ini kerja sama yang sangat luar biasa dalam mendukung pelayanan kesehatan di Papua Pegunungan,” Tabo said in a statement reported by ANTARA. He expressed hope that the partnership would enable residents to receive more treatment at their local hospitals.
The eight facilities operate in different local conditions, but they share a common objective: to improve the quality and availability of services so that residents have more options closer to home. Strengthening each hospital also matters for the wider referral network. A facility that can diagnose and stabilise a patient promptly may reduce delays and help determine whether a transfer to a more specialised centre is necessary.
The programme does not mean that every complex case can be immediately treated at every participating hospital. Some conditions require highly specialised teams and advanced equipment that may remain concentrated in larger referral centres. The goal is to increase local capacity while making referrals more effective when higher-level treatment is needed.
The 11 Priority Health Service Areas
The national programme covers 11 priority service areas identified by the Ministry of Health. They include cancer, heart disease, stroke, urology, maternal and child health, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases, mental health, diabetes, gastroenterology, and eye care.
These services cover a wide range of health needs, from acute emergencies to long-term and complex illnesses. Heart attacks and strokes, for example, can require rapid assessment and timely intervention. Cancer care may involve coordinated diagnosis, specialist consultation and treatment planning. Maternal and child health services are important for preventing avoidable complications during pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood.
Respiratory illnesses and tuberculosis require reliable diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Mental health services need trained professionals and systems that allow patients to obtain ongoing care. Diabetes management, meanwhile, often depends on early detection, consistent medication, patient education and monitoring to prevent complications.
The inclusion of uronephrology and gastrohepatology also highlights the importance of strengthening care for diseases affecting the urinary system, kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Eye services are another priority because preventable or treatable visual problems can affect education, employment and daily independence.
The list is not simply a catalogue of diseases. It represents a plan to strengthen the clinical pathways through which patients are assessed, diagnosed, treated and referred when necessary.
For residents, the value of such a programme will ultimately depend on whether these services become accessible in practice. A hospital may be designated to provide a priority service, but its capacity will depend on trained staff, suitable equipment, medicines, laboratory support and the ability to maintain treatment over time.
From Agreement to Implementation
The programme was developed through a series of coordination steps in 2026. On June 26, the Health Ministry, the Papua Pegunungan provincial government, the eight regency administrations and 14 referral hospitals signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreements to support the priority-service mentoring programme. The agreement was intended to establish a framework for improving local hospital capacity.
At the time, the Ministry of Health’s Director of Clinical Services, Dr Obrin Parulian, said the target was for hospitals in all eight regencies to be able to provide the priority services by the end of 2028. He explained that mentoring would include training, clinical guidance and the provision of medical equipment.
The next phase involved strengthening coordination and clarifying how the programme would work across the hospital network. In July, the National Mentoring Hospital Coordinator, Dr Eniarti, described the initiative as part of the national health-system transformation programme, with a focus on improving referral services. She said the collaboration would bring together central and local governments, national and regional mentor hospitals, network hospitals and other stakeholders.
By October, the provincial government was reporting that the eight regional hospitals were receiving guidance from the Health Ministry and 14 established hospitals. The latest update, published by ANTARA on October 10, reaffirmed the focus on improving all 11 priority service areas through cooperation between national institutions and local facilities.
This sequence illustrates that the initiative is not a one-off equipment distribution exercise. It is a staged effort involving agreements, coordination, technical assistance and a longer implementation horizon. The challenge now is to convert those commitments into services that hospitals can deliver consistently.
National and Regional Hospitals Provide Specialist Support
The mentoring network includes nine national coordinating hospitals: Dharmais Cancer Hospital; Harapan Kita National Cardiovascular Centre; the National Brain Centre Hospital Prof. Dr Mahar Mardjono; Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital; Harapan Kita Children and Maternal Hospital; Persahabatan Hospital; Dr Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital; Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital; and Cicendo Eye Hospital.
Regional support comes from Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou, Central General Hospital, in Manado; Sardjito Hospital, in Yogyakarta; Dr Soetomo, Regional General Hospital, in Surabaya; Bali Mandara Eye Hospital; and Jayapura Regional General Hospital.
The participating institutions bring different areas of expertise to the programme. They assist local hospitals in enhancing clinical capabilities, strengthening service organisation, and identifying areas that require attention. Depending on the service, this may involve professional training, specialist guidance, support for referral arrangements and advice on equipment requirements.
The approach is particularly important where a local hospital has staff who can provide basic or intermediate treatment but need additional expertise to manage more complex cases. A mentoring relationship can help clinicians develop skills while giving hospital managers a clearer understanding of the systems required to support new services.
The partnership also creates an opportunity for local medical teams to learn from hospitals with experience in specialist care. Over time, that knowledge can strengthen local capacity and reduce dependence on external referrals for conditions that can safely be managed within the region.
However, mentoring cannot replace the need for adequate staffing and resources. A hospital’s ability to provide a service depends on the availability of clinicians, nurses, diagnostic personnel, medicines, equipment and maintenance. Sustaining these components will require continuing cooperation between the central government, provincial authorities and regency administrations.
Training, Equipment and Better Referral Systems
Dr. Obrin stated that the programme aims to extend beyond merely constructing or physically improving hospital buildings. Medical equipment, clinical systems and trained personnel must be available if facilities are to deliver effective treatment.
That principle is particularly relevant in a province where geography can complicate the delivery of health services. A facility may be physically present, yet its practical value depends on whether it has the personnel and equipment required to diagnose and treat patients.
The programme therefore places human resources and governance alongside infrastructure. Training can help medical personnel improve their skills, while better service management can clarify responsibilities and support consistent clinical practice. Stronger referral systems can also help patients move between levels of care without unnecessary delays.
The ministry’s approach is consistent with the broader objective of strengthening referral services across Indonesia. National and regional hospitals are expected to support local facilities, while provincial and regency governments have responsibilities for maintaining services and ensuring that staff and equipment remain available.
For Papua Pegunungan, this coordination is essential. Specialist care cannot be developed through a single intervention. It requires a functioning system in which local hospitals, referral centres, health workers and government authorities work together.
Reducing the Burden of Travel for Patients
For families in remote areas, access to specialist care can involve more than the medical treatment itself. Travel may require money for transport, accommodation and meals, while family members may need to take time away from work or other responsibilities to accompany a patient.
When treatment is unavailable locally, a patient may have to travel to another city or province. Such journeys can be especially demanding for people with serious conditions who need repeated consultations, diagnostic tests or follow-up care.
The hospital mentoring programme aims to alleviate this burden by facilitating the delivery of more services within Papua Pegunungan. If local hospitals can safely manage a wider range of cases, patients may be able to receive initial assessments, treatment and follow-up closer to their communities.
That does not mean that all referrals outside the province will disappear. Complex cases may still require services available only at specialised centres. The practical goal is to ensure that referrals are clinically necessary and that patients can access the right level of treatment as efficiently as possible.
The benefits will need to be assessed over time. Useful indicators include the number of services actually operating, the availability of trained staff, waiting times, referral patterns and whether patients can complete treatment without avoidable travel. These measures can help authorities determine whether the programme is delivering on its objectives.
The Road to 2028
The programme’s target of improving priority services by the end of 2028 provides a clear direction, but it also creates a demanding implementation schedule. Each hospital will need to develop the capabilities appropriate to its role, address gaps in staffing and equipment, and maintain the quality of services once they are introduced.
The eight regency hospitals will not necessarily progress at the same pace. Their starting capacity, available personnel, infrastructure and access to supplies may differ. Regular evaluation will be crucial for identifying areas that require additional support and ensuring that the programme adapts to local circumstances.
Sustainability will be as important as initial progress. Equipment needs maintenance, trained personnel need opportunities for continued professional development, and clinical services require stable operating budgets. Regional authorities will also need to ensure that referral arrangements remain functional and that patients receive clear information about where to seek treatment.
Governor John Tabo has expressed confidence that the partnership can improve medical services and contribute to better health outcomes in Papua Pegunungan. He has also pointed out the opportunity to strengthen the capabilities of local medical personnel through guidance from experienced hospitals.
That focus on local capacity is important. A successful programme should leave hospitals better able to deliver services independently, while maintaining access to specialist support when necessary.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s effort to strengthen eight regional hospitals in Papua Pegunungan is an important step towards improving access to specialist health services in the mountainous province. By focusing on 11 priority areas, the Health Ministry and its partners are seeking to address gaps in clinical expertise, equipment, service management and referral arrangements.
The programme’s progress from the June 2026 cooperation agreements to the subsequent coordination and mentoring activities shows a structured effort to strengthen the regional health system. The target of improving services by the end of 2028 provides a framework for continued work by national and local authorities.
The ultimate measure of success will not be the number of agreements signed or equipment delivered. It will be whether residents can obtain timely, safe and effective care, whether local health workers have the skills and resources to treat more patients, and whether unnecessary journeys for medical treatment become less common.
Achieving that outcome will require sustained investment, reliable staffing, functioning equipment and cooperation between the central government, provincial administration, regency governments and referral hospitals.
If these elements are maintained, the programme could help build a more capable regional health system and make quality treatment more accessible to people throughout Papua Pegunungan.
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