Over a three-month period spanning January to March 2026, multiple incidents across the Papua Provinces have raised serious concerns about the state of healthcare access for indigenous Papuans, not only in remote communities but also in urban areas. The cases documented below point to systemic failures at several levels of the healthcare system. Issues of concern reportedly included the misuse of public health infrastructure, the absence of basic services in geographically isolated communities, the prioritisation of administrative procedures over emergency care, and the compounding impact of armed conflict on civilian health outcomes. These failures carry implications under Indonesian constitutional law, the Special Autonomy framework for Papua, and international human rights standards, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health as guaranteed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
While the reported incidents distinct in their immediate circumstances, the cases reflect a set of recurring structural conditions. There is a persistent absence of healthcare facilities in geographically remote communities, with severe disruption to healthcare systems in conflict-affected areas. Instead of allowing humanitarian access to internally displaced persons and reinforce adequate healthcare services in conflict-affected areas across West Papua, the Indonesian government deploys more troops to these areas. Soldiers guard health institutions or patrol from door-to door, offering basic medical examinations. Such measures add to the already existing trauma among the indigenous population and are no sustainable solution to West Papua's long-standing health crisis. Similarly concerning is the growing trend of reported cases involving administrative protocols that have taken precedence over emergency medical response.
Case examples
On 29 January 2026, a community leader in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, fell seriously ill and required urgent referral to a higher-level facility (see photo on top & video below, source: independent HRD). Residents transported the patient on a makeshift stretcher along a rocky road, as no ambulance was available to them. According to witness accounts and a subsequent open letter addressed to the President of Indonesia and relevant provincial and regency authorities, a government health department vehicle was stationed at the scene. When residents requested that it be used to transport the patient, the officer in charge declined. The letter further alleged that the same vehicle had been observed on prior occasions being used to transport personal goods such as firewood and building materials rather than patients.
A longer-standing and more structurally entrenched situation has been documented in Omon Village, Jayapura Regency, home to members of the Elseng indigenous community. Despite being recorded in government and academic documents since at least 1970, the village has no road access, no electricity, no school, and no permanent healthcare facility. Reaching the nearest health clinic in Bangai Village requires an approximately 18-kilometre journey on foot through dense rainforest, crossing multiple rivers. Volunteer medical workers from the Papua Medical Community Without Borders, who have been visiting the community since 2021, report that sick residents must be carried by relatives along this route and that some have died before reaching care. Maternal deaths during unassisted home births have been reported by community members as recurring. During a medical visit in December 2025 volunteers examined 75 residents and documented 21 cases of malaria, 14 of acute respiratory infection, and additional cases of skin infection, hypertension, digestive disorders, and anaemia. Village leadership has raised these issues at district-level development planning consultations repeatedly over the years, without resulting in concrete improvements. The Jayapura Deputy Regent, acknowledging the village's isolation, stated in late 2025 that road construction would be budgeted for 2026.
On 8 March 2026, Martina Biri, a 23-year-old student from the Kimyal tribe and originally from Yahukimo Regency, reportedly died at Yowari District General Hospital in Jayapura Regency. According to accounts provided by her family and corroborated by a community statement from Kimyal residents in Jayapura, Mrs Biri arrived at the hospital at approximately 5:15 pm in a deteriorating condition. The person accompanying her informed duty staff that the patient required immediate attention, but staff directed them to complete administrative registration before treatment proceeded. The patient was subsequently taken to a blood testing room, where she waited approximately 10 to 15 minutes. When her companion briefly left to collect the test results, Mrs Biri was found unresponsive in the hospital reception area and was pronounced dead without receiving substantive medical treatment. The Director of Yowari Hospital acknowledged the concerns raised by the family and confirmed that an internal clinical audit and CCTV review would be conducted. The family has requested the dismissal of staff on duty at the time, transparency regarding hospital procedures see video below, source: independent HRD). This incident has been raised in the context of a broader concern about administrative barriers for patients immediately requiring emergency care.
In Intan Jaya Regency, the healthcare situation is further complicated by ongoing armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army. Reporting and field data collected between 2019 and 2025, with conditions continuing into early 2026, document the closure or dysfunctionality of community health centres, the withdrawal of medical personnel from outside the region due to safety concerns, the disruption of immunisation and maternal health programmes, and deteriorating sanitation conditions among the internally displaced populations (IDPs). IDPs have increased exposure to infectious disease, while the militarisation of civilian spaces continues. Heavy military presence in and near public facilities has contributed to reduced community trust in public services. Six health centres in Intan Jaya have been identified as requiring serious the serious attention of the local government. The presence of armed personnel and security operations cause fear, stress and psychological trauma amongst the population in Intan Jaya. This situation has reportedly led to an increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, particularly amongst women, children and the elderly. Limited availability of healthcare workers, particularly doctors and nurses from outside the region, has resulted in rising rates of illness and mortality.
Detailed case data
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Intan Jaya
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Jayapura Regency
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Puncak
Total number of victims: thousands
1. male elderly Indigenous Peoples right to health
2. Martina Biri, female 0 Indigenous Peoples right to health
3. hundreds, diverse unknown Indigenous Peoples right to health
4. thousands, diverse unknown Indigenous Peoples right to health
Period of incident: 10/12/2025-31/03/2026
Perpetrator: Public Health Services
Issues: indigenous peoples, women and children