Health service unequal in Irian

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Governor Jacob Pattipi admitted yesterday that many residents in the hinterland do not have access to government health services.

He told members of the provincial legislative council that the lack of health personnel, inadequate transportation and the absence of telecommunications facilities are the major problems.

Irian Jaya, which has a population of less than two million, now has 877 clinics and 121 medical doctors in 117 subdistricts.

"Each doctor serves 19,567 people," he said as quoted by Antara.