Nethy Darma Somba, Jayapura – Dozens of paramedics across Jayapura staged a rally on Monday at the Papua Governor's Office to demand the local administration increase their allowances, which are no longer enough to live on.

Leni, one of the demonstrators, said during the protest that the paramedics had asked the administration to revise the 1999 regulation on service allowances.

"Under the regulation, we receive only Rp 300 [US 30 cents] for treating a patient and Rp 500 for performing an operation," Leni said.

Maurits Okoseray, director of the regional hospital, Dok II, said the regulation had become irrelevant, with the current system of Papua residents not paying any costs if they got their health checked at state-owned hospitals.

Papua Deputy Governor Alex Hessegem said his office would form a special team to handle the case.