Doctor serves over 10,000

AMBON, Maluku: One doctor in this province serves on average 10,000 patients, according to Abdul Rachman Polanunu, head of the provincial health office.

This ratio is still favorable to the national average of one doctor for every 30,000 patients, Abdul said.

The problem however is one of transportation because Maluku is a province comprising of islands that it was difficult to divide the jobs between the 120 doctors who are now working for the government's health centers, he said as reported by the Antara news agency.

To facilitate medical services, the provincial government has divided the province into 21 groups. Doctors are assigned to these groups where they establish a practice in the most populous area. They are also encouraged to travel and to isolated areas.