Manokwari Regent Seeks Health Minister's Support for Hospital and Clinic Development
Manokwari - Manokwari Regent Hermus Indou of West Papua has requested support from Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin for the construction and improvement of healthcare infrastructure in the district, including a regional general hospital (RSUD), health centres (puskesmas), and public health laboratories.
“We are proposing the construction of an RSUD and puskesmas in districts that do not yet have healthcare facilities, as well as the development of a public health laboratory to improve healthcare services,” Hermus stated in an official statement received in Manokwari on Thursday.
The request was made during an audience with Health Minister Budi in Jakarta on 11 March, attended by Manokwari Vice Regent Mugiyono, Acting Head of Manokwari Health Service Marthen Rantetampang, and the Director of Manokwari Regional Hospital’s Public Service Body (BLUD).
The regent explained that strengthening these facilities aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services through adequate, representative facilities that meet national healthcare service standards.
The regional government requires central government support to realise the strengthening of an integrated healthcare system in the district, from basic health services to hospital-level referral services.
“So that in Manokwari we can also implement the national healthcare system transformation and strengthen primary care services as outlined by the Health Ministry,” he said.
Based on an analysis of healthcare service conditions, Hermus stated that the construction and strengthening of healthcare infrastructure is an urgent requirement to meet service access that aligns with community expectations. This is attributed to geographic difficulties, uneven population distribution, and high rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“Some districts do not yet have puskesmas, so residents must travel long distances to obtain basic healthcare services,” he noted.
Hermus explained that Manokwari Regency does not have a Public Health Laboratory (Labkesmas) to serve as a district referral laboratory, and most of the regional hospital’s buildings are severely damaged and require renovation. These facility limitations have resulted in referral service capacity not operating optimally, delayed disease diagnosis, and suboptimal management of several priority cases.
“We are also proposing the construction of staff housing for healthcare workers, procurement of ambulances, and provision of mobile clinic facilities to expand service coverage to remote areas,” he said.
During the meeting, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin advised the Manokwari Regency Government to propose RSUD and puskesmas construction through the physical special allocation fund (DAK) scheme with amounts according to need.
The Health Ministry, he stated, will provide phased support beginning in 2027 for RSUD construction and renovation, whilst proposals for puskesmas construction must consider a ratio of one puskesmas serving approximately 20,000 residents.
“Of course the Health Ministry will assist with hospital construction, but with the condition that hospital governance must be improved and receive direct support and mentoring from the Health Ministry,” Budi said.