Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, November 13, 2026 at 02:07 AM UTC

Indonesia's Papua, PNG expand cross-border healthcare access

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Q. Pratiwi, Tegar Nurfitra

Jayapura (ANTARA) - The provincial government of Indonesia's Papua has established cross-border healthcare cooperation with Papua New Guinea (PNG), involving two hospitals to expand medical access for residents in areas bordering the two countries.

"On Thursday (Nov. 12), we signed a memorandum of agreement in Jayapura involving Dian Harapan Hospital and Provita Hospital, as well as the West Sepik Provincial Health Authority and the PNG National Department of Health," Papua Deputy Governor Aryoko Rumaropen said.

Speaking in Jayapura City on Friday, he noted that the cooperation forms part of efforts to address shortages of health facilities and specialist medical personnel in several border regions.

He emphasized that the two issues remain pressing problems in areas connecting Indonesia and PNG.

"Bearing that in mind, addressing this condition will require cross-border coordination and support to enable residents of border areas to access the medical services they need," Rumaropen added.

He further said that the newly established partnership is expected to strengthen bilateral coordination on healthcare services, particularly patient referral mechanisms, specialist treatment, diagnostic examinations, and treatments that are still unavailable in facilities in patients' home regions.

"We hope that this cooperation will enable people requiring medical attention to access services in a more directed, coordinated, timely, and accountable manner," the deputy governor remarked.

He went on to underline the significance of the cooperation, highlighting the long-standing social and familial ties shared by Indonesian and PNG citizens along the border.

"For that reason, health cooperation reflects our care for the needs of people in the two countries," he concluded.

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