Irian Jaya needs health specialists

JAYAPURA: Seven general hospitals in Irian Jaya lack specialists, the head of the health agency here said.

WE Kalalo was quoted Thursday by Antara as saying the institutions were in Wamene, Merauke, Manokwari, Serui, Nabire, Biak and Fakfak.

The Jayapura, Sorong and Abepura general hospitals in Jayapura town have sufficient specialists.

"In line with rules (on hospitals), each general hospital should have at least four specialists," Kalalo said.

The health agency has targeted for all general hospitals here to have four specialists on staff by 2000.

The agency is providing scholarships to doctors who have completed their contracts in Irian Jaya to continue studies at universities in Java to qualify as specialists.

In the meantime, the agency is hiring specialists from Hassanudin University in Ujungpandang.

So far there are only 40 percent of the number of resident doctors needed, he said, who were spread out in community health centers. The report did not state the number of resident doctors needed.

He added the provinces' 2,000 midwives was 226 short of the target.