Access to Papua Mountain Health Services is Strengthened, Patients with 11 Priority Diseases Do Not Need to Travel Far for Treatment

WAMENA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) ensures that the treatment services for 11 priority diseases at regional public hospitals (RSUD) in the Papua Mountains are running well through the national hospital amnesty program.

National Referral Hospital Coordinator, dr Eniarti, said the program is part of the implementation of health system transformation, especially the strengthening of referral services as the second pillar of national health transformation.

The cooperation involves the Papua Mountain Province Government, eight district governments, national supporting hospitals, regional supporting hospitals, and network hospitals.

"Eleven priority health services, including cancer, heart, stroke, uro-nephrology, maternal and child health (KIA), respiratory and tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases (PIE), mental health, diabetes mellitus, gastrohepatology, and eyes, which can later be served at the Papua Mountains Hospital," said Eniarti in a written statement in Wamena, Antara, Monday, July 13.

According to him, the program is a forum for coordination and collaboration between the central government, regional governments, national and regional referral hospitals, network hospitals, and stakeholders to strengthen quality, equitable, and sustainable priority health services.

"We want to provide the best service for all people in Indonesia, one of which is in the Papua Mountains," he said.

Eniarti said that the collaboration is expected to optimize the implementation of the amnesty program for 11 priority health services.

"We hope that with the cooperation between the Government of Papua Mountain Province, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the national coordinator hospital, and the regional hospital, health services will be more optimal for the people of Papua Mountain," he said.

He added that the forum was also a means of strengthening human resources (HR) capacity, service governance, referral systems, and the fulfillment of priority service facilities and infrastructure in the region.

According to him, the Ministry of Health through the Directorate General of Advanced Health and the Clinical Services Directorate will continue to encourage the strengthening of referral services so that health services are more equitable throughout Indonesia.

The national coordinating hospitals in the program include Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessels Hospital, Prof. Dr. Mahar Mardjono National Brain Hospital, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Children and Mother of Hope Hospital, Friendship Hospital, Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital, Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital, and Cicendo Eye Hospital.

Meanwhile, regional supporting hospitals consist of Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou Manado Hospital, Dr. Sardjito Yogyakarta Hospital, Dr. Soetomo Surabaya Hospital, Bali Mandara Eye Hospital, and Jayapura Hospital.