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View all search resultsPregnant woman, unborn baby die after Papua hospitals refuse treatment
When they arrived at Dian Harapan Hospital, staff informed the family that the facility could not perform the C-section and referred them to Abepura Regional General Hospital, about 6 kilometers away. However, according to the husband, Abepura Hospital also declined to treat Irene and redirected them to Bhayangkara Hospital, 7 kilometers farther.
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(Shutterstock/AePatt Journey)
A
pregnant woman and her unborn child in Jayapura regency, Papua, died after a series of local hospitals reportedly declined to treat her during labor, underscoring chronic problems in the region’s healthcare system.
According to the family, the woman, identified as Irene Sokoy, began experiencing signs of labor at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. Her husband immediately transported her by speedboat from their home in Hobong village, located on an island in Lake Sentani, to Yowari Regional Hospital, approximately 13 kilometers away.
At Yowari Hospital, staff informed the family that Irene required an emergency cesarean section. However, the hospital could not perform the operation at that time and referred her to Dian Harapan Hospital, about 25 kilometers away.
When they arrived at Dian Harapan Hospital, staff informed the family that the facility could not perform the C-section and referred them to Abepura Regional General Hospital, about 6 kilometers away. However, according to the husband, Abepura Hospital also declined to treat Irene and redirected them to Bhayangkara Hospital, 7 kilometers farther.
At Bhayangkara Hospital, the family was reportedly told that the operation would cost Rp 8 million (US$478) and that they would need to pay Rp 4 million upfront. Unable to afford the cost, Irene’s husband decided to continue to Jayapura Regional Hospital, another 12 kilometers away.
During the journey, Irene suffered a seizure. Both she and her unborn baby died before reaching the hospital.
Read also: Death of 12 year-old sparks calls for national health insurance reform
