Nabire, Aug. 7 -- Indonesia's Central Papua Province will fund medical scholarships for 35 indigenous Papuan students to address doctor shortages and improve healthcare access in remote communities, a provincial health official said Friday.

Kristianus Tebai, head of health resources at the Central Papua Health Office, said the scholarships cover 20 places for general practitioners and dentists, 10 for specialist doctors, and five for subspecialists.

"We have mapped our physician needs. At present, we require 35 doctors, including general practitioners, specialists, dentists and subspecialists," Tebai said in Nabire.

Applicants are free to take entrance examinations at state universities of their choice, including Gadjah Mada University...