Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, strategic location as an international travel and trade hub, large population and extensive human-animal interactions increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases and other public health emergencies. Climate-related events add further pressure. To keep communities safe, Indonesia needs strong systems that can detect threats early, coordinate action across sectors and respond quickly when emergencies occur.
To strengthen these capacities, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to health security through the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) meeting in Jakarta on 17–18 June 2026. NAPHS serves as Indonesia's roadmap for preventing, detecting and responding to public health threats. It supports the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), a global overarching framework that helps countries prevent, detect and respond to public health risks that can spread across borders.
During the meeting, more than 200 participants from government ministries and institutions, subnational governments, points of entry, laboratories, health facilities, academia, professional associations and development partners came together to translate the plan into practical actions and priorities. These stakeholders identified priority investments to strengthen coordination across sectors, improve surveillance and laboratory systems, enhance infection prevention and control, build preparedness at ports and airports, and address diseases that can spread between animals and humans through a One Health approach. These actions are designed to strengthen Indonesia's ability to identify and respond to health threats before they become emergencies.
WHO has supported the Ministry of Health throughout the development and implementation of NAPHS by providing technical expertise, helping align activities with the IHR, and facilitating collaboration across sectors. Throughout the meeting, WHO also provided technical guidance on IHR core capacities and supported discussions on implementation priorities.
“The NAPHS constitutes an important part of efforts to strengthen national health security and support the implementation of IHR in Indonesia," said Dr Sumarjaya, Director of Health Surveillance and Quarantine at the Ministry of Health. "The NAPHS will serve as a reference and strategic guide for stakeholders in strengthening Indonesiaʼs preparedness and response to public health threats, while supporting the achievement of sustainable national health security.”
The meeting also reviewed progress in implementing recent global amendments to the IHR, including plans to establish a National IHR Authority to strengthen coordination, oversight and monitoring across sectors
By turning shared commitments into coordinated action, Indonesia is strengthening its ability to manage health threats before they become crises. These efforts will help protect communities and ensure the country is better prepared when emergencies occur.
This activity is supported by the Pandemic Fund.
Written by Dr Endang Widuri Wulandari, National Professional Officer (International Health Regulations), WHO Indonesia