The Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH) and World Health Organization (WHO) have ramped up momentum to implement a key geotagging pilot initiative in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Launched on 19 December 2024, and spearheaded by MoH’s Center for Data and Information (Pusdatin), the initiative aims to provide decision-makers access to reliable, real-time data for smarter resource allocation and service planning. Based on the efficacy of the approach, field methodology and digital tools used, the pilot will inform nation-wide geotagging implementation, for more effective, accessible health care for all.
Indonesia’s health system has long struggled with fragmented and inconsistent health facility data. This makes it challenging to allocate resources effectively, particularly in underserved regions. Many areas lack up-to-date, standardized information on the number, type and locations of health facilities. Without this critical data, planning for emergencies, deploying resources efficiently and ensuring equitable access to health care becomes significantly more difficult.
Heatmaps show the distribution of health care facilities in each municipality.
The MoH-WHO geotagging pilot aims to address these challenges by applying geospatial technology to capture GPS coordinates and document essential health facility details. The data collected are then transferred to a web-based geo-visual platform that aims to improve health service management, enhance accessibility, support national health planning and empower individuals, families and communities to make the best health care decisions possible.
"Providing equitable and high-quality health care services requires complete and accurate information about health facilities," said Tiomaida Seviana H.H., S.H., M.A.P., Head of Pusdatin, at an MoH and WHO-convened workshop on 21–23 January 2025. "Geotagging enables better planning and management, ultimately improving health care access."
In the first week of February 2025, immediately following the January workshop – which trained field surveyors, health officials and technical teams on data collection, analysis and application – Pontianak-based field surveyors collected data from 393 health facilities. These facilities included puskesmas, auxiliary puskesmas, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, blood transfusion units and independent practices. The data collected have since been integrated into the web-based geo-visual platform, providing a comprehensive, real-time view of the region’s health infrastructure.
Health care facilities, colour-coded for
capacity and function.
Based on these data, individuals in Pontianak can now locate the nearest hospital, clinic or pharmacy, and when necessary, disaster response teams can reach communities more efficiently. Importantly, researchers and decision-makers can analyze facility distribution to recommend policy improvements and infrastructure investments.
“This initiative is not just about data – it’s about impact,” said Professor Roderick Salenga, Team Lead for Health Systems at WHO Indonesia. “With a comprehensive health facility master list, authorities can better anticipate health care demands, allocate resources where they are needed most, and improve emergency response times. This is particularly crucial for rural and remote areas, where gaps in health care access can have life-or-death consequences.”
The success of the Pontianak geotagging pilot marks the beginning of a larger transformation, which is itself aligned with Indonesia’s Mid-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) and Health Transformation Agenda. Plans are currently underway to expand geotagging efforts to other provinces, with the aim of integrating high-quality data into Indonesia’s national health information system, for lasting improvements in health service delivery, access for all to quality health services, and a health system that leaves no one behind.
Written by Kanti Laras, National Professional Officer (Health Information System), WHO Indonesia