The recent measles outbreak and malnutrition cases suffered by children living in Asmat regency in Papua have exposed the devastating fact that there has been a serious shortage of doctors in the regency ever since it was established 15 years ago.

The situation became apparent at Agats General Hospital in the regency’s capital of Agats on Friday. The hospital had been receiving patients from various districts in the regency in the wake of the outbreak that has killed at least 67 children. On Friday alone, 11 malnourished children from Atat village in Pulau Tiga district were admitted to the hospital.

The hospital has received additional medical specialists — four pediatricians, an internist and a surgeon — from the Indonesian Military and the Health Ministry to treat the stream of patients suffering from malnutrition and measles. However, on normal days, the Agats Hos...