Nearly 97% of Indonesia’s population lives in areas prone to disasters, and essential health services are increasingly threatened by floods, droughts, and climate-sensitive diseases. In 2024, 142 healthcare facilities were damaged by climate-related disasters – primarily floods, flash floods, and landslides – forcing some to halt operations, relocate, or divert staff during critical times.
Strengthening Healthcare Resilience
Many Indonesian healthcare facilities currently lack systematic methods for assessing and improving their preparedness. Weaknesses include limited workforce capacity to manage climate risks, vulnerable water and sanitation systems, unreliable energy supplies, and infrastructure not designed to withstand climate hazards.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners, has developed assessment tools for Climate-Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities. These tools, based on a global framework, are integrated into the SIKELIM platform – a digital system that maps disaster-affected facilities in real time.
The SIKELIM platform provides a real-time map and analytics of healthcare facilities affected by disasters, supporting monitoring and decision-making for climate-resilient health services.
A pilot assessment of 15 hospitals and primary healthcare centres (Puskesmas) in Jakarta, Semarang, and Bantul revealed varying levels of resilience. Facilities in Semarang demonstrated greater preparedness, while those in Jakarta and Bantul were more vulnerable to flooding.
Professor Dr Dante Herbuwono, Vice Minister of Health, emphasized that “Climate change is felt most acutely by vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities, both in terms of health impacts and access to healthcare services. This makes it essential for the health sector to adapt, collaborate and strengthen the resilience of health systems.”
Climate-ready healthcare facilities in Indonesia are intended to ensure continued service delivery during emergencies, protecting vulnerable populations. The framework guides facilities in identifying vulnerabilities and implementing targeted interventions, with reassessments recommended every one to three years.
Hospital Panembahan Senopati in Yogyakarta has taken adaptation measures, such as elevating medical refrigerators and freezers to protect essential medicines and vaccines from flood damage.
The Ministry of Health, with WHO support, plans to expand the baseline assessment to more provinces, strengthen assessor capacity, and improve the SIKELIM platform for routine monitoring. This expansion will prioritize proportional representation of health facilities across Indonesia’s western, central, and eastern regions.
These efforts align with the National Action Plan on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Health 2025–2030 and the National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change 2026-2030, supporting Indonesia’s commitments under the COP26 Health Programme, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIKELIM platform?
SIKELIM is a digital system that maps disaster-affected healthcare facilities in real time, supporting monitoring and decision-making for climate-resilient health services in Indonesia.
Which regions were included in the pilot assessment?
The pilot assessment included 15 hospitals and primary healthcare centres (Puskesmas) across Jakarta, Semarang, and Bantul.
How often are reassessments of healthcare facility resilience recommended?
Regular reassessments are recommended every one to three years.
As Indonesia confronts the escalating impacts of climate change, how can communities best prepare for disruptions to essential healthcare services?
