Jakarta. The Indonesian government plans to build 24 new hospitals across Papua to improve healthcare access and ensure equal medical services across the region’s six provinces, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said on Tuesday.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader push to close infrastructure and welfare gaps in eastern Indonesia, a region long challenged by limited healthcare facilities and uneven access to essential services.

Speaking during a visit to Manokwari, West Papua, Gibran said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to upgrading healthcare infrastructure in Indonesia’s easternmost region.

“As part of the medium-term development plan, the government will build 24 hospitals in Papua,” Gibran said in a meeting with local government officials.

Each hospital, he said, will be equipped with modern medical facilities such as mammography, CT-scan, and MRI units, along with specialized doctors. The goal is to ensure Papuans can receive advanced medical care locally without being referred to hospitals in Sulawesi or Java.

“This must be our shared focus so that in the future, no Papuan needs to travel outside the region for treatment,” he stressed.

Gibran underscored that equitable and consistent development in Papua must continue to reduce disparities and deliver tangible benefits to local communities. He also called for stronger coordination between central and regional governments to ensure effective planning and budgeting that align with local needs.

“Development in Papua cannot be done in just one or two years -- it must be continuous,” Gibran said.