JAYAPURA — The Papua Provincial Government has begun strengthening the self-reliance of its health workforce by preparing specialist medical education programs within the region. The initial step is the launch of an anaesthesiology specialist education program scheduled for February 27, 2026.

Papua Vice Governor Aryoko Rumaropen said that the development of specialist education is part of the regional government's long-term strategy to improve the quality of healthcare services while reducing dependence on medical personnel from outside Papua.

According to Aryoko, Dok II Hospital in Jayapura will remain positioned as the main teaching hospital and will be directed to open postgraduate programs, starting with anaesthesiology. The program will be launched directly by the Governor of Papua together with the Rector of Cenderawasih University.

"We are preparing Dok II Hospital as a center for specialist education. This is part of the cooperation between the Papua Provincial Government and the Faculty of Medicine of Cenderawasih University," he said in Jayapura on Tuesday (17/2/2026).

Meanwhile, Abepura Hospital will be focused as a teaching hospital for the professional doctor program, or clinical clerkship. This division of roles is expected to make the medical education system in Papua more structured and tiered.

The Vice Governor stressed that developing specialist doctors from Papua is a strategic necessity. In addition to ensuring the sustainability of healthcare services, this step also strengthens the sense of ownership and responsibility for medical services in their own region.

"The people who will help Papuan communities are Papuans themselves. Therefore, our children must be prepared to become doctors and specialist doctors," he said.

He added that the anaesthesiology specialist program will serve as the entry point before other specialist programs are gradually developed. The Papua Provincial Government hopes for full support from academics, healthcare workers, and all stakeholders so that the development of specialist medical education in Papua can continue sustainably. ***