Pregnant Woman Irene Sokoy Dies, Ministry Of Health Promises To Fix These 4 Things

Director General of Advanced Health of the Ministry of Health Azhar Jaya (left) and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin in a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (27/11/2025). ANTARA/Mecca Yumna

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health said that there were four main causes of Irene Sokoy's death and her baby in Papua. His party will focus on dealing with the four issues so that similar cases do not happen again.

The Director General of Advanced Health of the Ministry of Health, Azhar Jaya, said that based on investigations by his party, the four issues were the scarcity of specialist doctors, non-optimal maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, standard procedures that were not implemented, and referral systems.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the shortage of specialist doctors, such as obgyn and anesthesia, is still happening outside Java. Therefore, his party builds a hospital-based education system and invites local children to study as a specialist as an effort to equalize access to health services and provide job opportunities.

"Then the second important point is that hospital management, especially hospitals in the area, must be improved. We continue to advocate to regional heads, regents, mayors, governors," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, November 27.

Budi explained that his party had assigned Sardjito Hospital to assist Papua Province in terms of hospital governance discipline and management, for example to renovate part of the operating room but still provide other operating rooms so that health services continue to run.

He also highlighted the importance of data collection to achieve a better referral system.

His party has also coordinated with the head of the relevant health office to improve guidance and supervision, including to impose sanctions on hospitals that violate the Health Law.

"Because in the new Health Law, the sanctions are clear, for hospital leaders who do not serve patients in the emergency. That must be served. And BPJS will definitely pay. So there is no reason that it is not served," he said.

Budi explained that his party would monitor the results of the investigation, three months from time to time to Papua to see the progress of health services in Papua Province.

On the same occasion, the Director of Quality Health Services Referral to the Ministry of Health Yuli Astuti Saripawan explained the chronology of the case.

Initially, said Sari, Irene did an antenna care (ANC) examination at the puskesmas, and checked with an obgyn specialist.

"The history is that this mother gave birth normally before, but the condition is that the baby is big, like that," he said.

The patient went home, and on November 16, Irene came sick, then wanted to give birth at Yowari Hospital. However, he said, there was no obgyn doctor because he was attending a seminar in Sulawesi.

Irene was also handled by the midwife, because of the two doctors on duty, one was in school, and the other was a seminar.

"He wants to have a normal delivery, but he can't use the term because after being helped for approximately five hours he can't, maybe because the baby is big, there are complications, it is advisable to do caesarean," he said.

Because there were no doctors, Irene was finally referred to Dian Harapan Hospital. However, the hospital does not have an anesthetician specialist, and the NICU is full.

"So the patient has not had time to get off, still in the car, like that. Then the patient was referred again, looking for this initiative, to be referred to the Abepura Hospital," said Sari.

At Abepura Hospital, he said, surgery could not be carried out due to limited facilities, because the four operating rooms were renovated. Finally, the patient was transferred to Bhayangkara Hospital. At Bhayangkara Hospital, he said, there were obgyn doctors and anesthetists, but there were no third-grade hospitalizations.

After that, Irene was advised to be hospitalized at a private hospital. There, Irene was asked to pay around Rp. 3-4 million. Due to economic problems, they finally moved to another hospital.

"Well, on the patient's way there was a seizure. Well, the seizure, then it was decided by the midwife to look for it, the closest person to return to the Bhayangkara Hospital," he said.

By the midwife, handling was carried out, but Irene's life could not be saved.

Previously, Irene Sokoy from Hobong Village, Sentani, Jayapura, died with the baby in her womb after being allegedly rejected by four hospitals in Jayapura Regency and City on Monday (17/11) at around 05.00 WIT.