Papuaaround.com – President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a comprehensive audit of all hospitals in Papua after the death of a pregnant woman, Irene Sokoy, and her baby. The directive was delivered during a closed meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday (24/11/2025), after Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian reported the case to the President. The government views this evaluation as a crucial step to prevent similar failures in healthcare services.
Tito explained that the President demanded swift improvements across every layer of the healthcare system in Papua. According to him, the audit will cover both government-owned and private medical facilities. Health department officials at provincial and district levels will also be examined to identify the root causes of persistent issues in local healthcare management.
He added that the President’s order does not solely target facility readiness but also the regulatory framework that governs hospital operations. The review will include local regulations such as Regent Regulations and Governor Regulations to ensure they function effectively and support responsive and timely medical services. Tito emphasized that collaboration with the Ministry of Health has already begun to accelerate the implementation of the audit.
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, along with a technical team from the Ministry of Home Affairs, departed for Jayapura on Monday night to begin field assessments. Tito noted that the government intends to determine whether the problem stems from insufficient medical personnel, administrative barriers, internal mismanagement, or existing regulations that hinder hospital operations. By identifying the exact causes, the government aims to design targeted and comprehensive corrective measures.
The case of Irene Sokoy has sparked broad public concern. Irene began experiencing contractions on Sunday (16/11), prompting her family to transport her from Hobong Village to Yowari Regional General Hospital (RSUD Yowari) by speedboat. However, the family stated that Irene was not immediately treated because no doctor was available, while the referral administration process proceeded slowly. The delays heightened the family’s anxiety as Irene’s condition continued to deteriorate.
Abraham Kabey, the Head of Hobong Village and Irene’s father-in-law, recounted that the referral letter had not been completed even as midnight approached. Faced with the prolonged delay, the family decided to seek treatment at other hospitals in hopes of saving Irene and her unborn baby.
After being turned away at RSUD Yowari, the family brought Irene to Dian Harapan Hospital and later to Abepura Regional General Hospital (RSUD Abepura). However, both facilities also failed to provide treatment. Their final attempt was at Bhayangkara Hospital, where they were asked to pay a Rp4 million deposit because the ward for BPJS patients was reportedly full.
The series of refusals left the family without options. Irene ultimately passed away on Monday (17/11) at around 05:00 WIT. Her death triggered widespread criticism, highlighting systemic weaknesses in Papua’s healthcare services, particularly in emergency situations where timely treatment is critical and administrative hurdles should never obstruct urgent care.
The government emphasized that the audit aims to prevent similar cases from recurring. Officials expect the evaluation to uncover structural weaknesses and yield concrete recommendations, ranging from staffing needs and service management to updates in regulations governing Papua hospitals operations. Through this initiative, the government hopes to strengthen healthcare quality in Papua and ensure that emergency cases receive immediate and adequate medical assistance.
