E. Kalimantan seeks medical staff

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan (JP): Local officials here on Wednesday highlighted the need for more medical staff in the province saying that the lack of human resources severely impeded health care.

The head of the provincial Health Agency, Awang Joenani, said that the lack of medical staff was particularly acute in Kutai Kertanegara Regency and Bulungan Regency.

"We've tried to conduct human resource training with locals in those regencies this past year, but the results are limited," he said as quoted by Antara.

As a consequence, the agency must assign medical staff to the regencies.

Separately on Wednesday, Deputy Director for General Affairs and Finance at A Wahab Sjachranie General Hospital here, Sugiyanto, expressed hope that regional autonomy will not significantly effect the hospital.

"We're hoping for an increased allocation from the regional budget because only Rp 7 billion from the total hospital expenditure of Rp 16 billion ($1.7 million) comes from the budget," he said.(hdn)