Indonesia Builds Stronger Climate-Ready Healthcare Facilities Now

Nearly 97% of Indonesians live in disaster-prone areas. Floods, droughts, and climate-sensitive diseases increasingly threaten essential health services across the archipelago. In 2024 alone, climate-related disasters damaged 142 healthcare facilities. Floods, flash floods, and landslides forced several facilities to halt operations entirely. Communities lost access to care at the exact moment they needed it most.

Why Climate Threatens Indonesia’s Health System

Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities face the greatest health risks. Moreover, these groups also struggle most to access healthcare during climate emergencies. This double burden makes it urgent for Indonesia’s health sector to act decisively.

Furthermore, the problem goes beyond physical damage. Many facilities still lack the tools to assess their own preparedness. Without structured evaluation methods, administrators cannot identify gaps or plan targeted improvements. Consequently, vulnerabilities persist and grow with each new climate event.

Key Vulnerabilities in Healthcare Facilities

Workforce and Infrastructure Gaps

Healthcare facilities across Indonesia face several critical weaknesses. First, workforce capacity for climate risk management remains limited. Second, water and sanitation systems suffer frequent disruptions during floods. Third, energy systems lack reliable backup power. Finally, much of the existing infrastructure was never designed to withstand climate hazards.

The Human Cost of Unpreparedness

Health workers evacuate to emergency response sites during disasters. This depletes the very staff that communities need for routine care. Therefore, building resilience is not merely an infrastructure issue. It is a matter of maintaining uninterrupted health services for millions of people.

WHO and the SIKELIM Digital Platform

A Practical Assessment Framework

The World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to develop the Climate-Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities (CRESCH) assessment tools. These tools draw from WHO’s global framework and adapt it to Indonesia’s specific context. Together, they help facilities evaluate vulnerabilities across five key systems: workforce capacity, water and sanitation (WASH) and waste management, energy, infrastructure, and health technology.

How SIKELIM Supports Real-Time Monitoring

Authorities integrated the assessment tools into the SIKELIM platform — a digital system that maps disaster-affected facilities in real time. SIKELIM gives decision-makers instant visibility into which facilities are at risk. As a result, ministries can respond faster and allocate resources more effectively during climate emergencies.

Pilot Assessment Results Across Three Cities

Findings From Jakarta, Semarang, and Bantul

WHO conducted a pilot assessment across 15 hospitals and primary healthcare centres (Puskesmas) in Jakarta, Semarang, and Bantul. The results showed significant variation in resilience levels by region. Semarang demonstrated stronger preparedness. Jakarta and Bantul, however, proved more vulnerable to flooding.

In Jakarta, flood risk affects approximately 50% of health workers. Additionally, flooding threatens one-third of the city’s water and sanitation systems. These figures highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions in the most exposed areas.

What Climate-Ready Healthcare Means for Indonesians

Continuous Care During Emergencies

Professor Dr Dante Herbuwono, Vice Minister of Health, emphasized this priority at the September 2025 guidelines launch: climate change harms vulnerable groups most — both in health outcomes and healthcare access. Therefore, the health sector must adapt collaboratively to protect these populations.

Regular Reassessment Keeps Facilities Prepared

The CRESCH framework guides hospitals and Puskesmas to identify specific weaknesses and implement solutions. Experts recommend reassessment every one to three years. This cycle ensures that improvements keep pace with evolving climate risks.

Expanding the Framework Nationwide

Plans for Broader Coverage

With WHO’s continued support, the Ministry of Health plans to expand baseline CRESCH assessments to more provinces. The expansion will ensure proportional representation across Indonesia’s western, central, and eastern regions. Additionally, authorities aim to strengthen assessor capacity and upgrade the SIKELIM platform for routine monitoring.

Alignment With National and Global Commitments

These efforts align directly with Indonesia’s National Action Plan on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Health 2025–2030. They also support the National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change 2026–2030. Furthermore, Indonesia reinforces its commitments under the COP26 Health Programme, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement.

Building climate-ready healthcare facilities is not optional for Indonesia. It is an essential investment in the health and dignity of 270 million people.