The Role of Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society in Strengthening Health System Resilience in Indonesia: A Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Health system resilience in Indonesia requires cross-sectoral governance capable of integrating the roles of government, communities, and multiple stakeholders in responding to health crises. Whole-of-Government (WoG) and Whole-of-Society (WoS) approaches are increasingly recognized as important for strengthening coordination, accountability, and response capacity within the health system. However, literature specifically examining how these approaches operate in the Indonesian context remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms of WoG and WoS in strengthening health system resilience in Indonesia, identify enabling and constraining factors in the implementation of cross-sectoral governance, and formulate strengthening strategies relevant to improving coordination and accountability during crises. Method: This study employed a literature review design using a thematic narrative synthesis approach. The literature search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and official documents from relevant authoritative institutions. A total of 12 sources met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Result: The findings show that WoG mechanisms in Indonesia are primarily reflected in coordination across ministries, government institutions, and subnational authorities, while WoS is reflected in the involvement of non-governmental partners, the Health Cluster, and the One Health approach. Key enabling factors include policy frameworks, coordination platforms, and capacity strengthening, whereas the main barriers include uneven subnational capacity, suboptimal data integration, and underdeveloped cross-sector accountability. Conclusion: Strengthening cross-sectoral governance should therefore focus on institutionalizing coordination, enhancing subnational capacity, standardizing operational mechanisms, and sustaining response learning.

Keywords: health system resilience; whole-of-government; whole-of-society; cross-sectoral governance; coordination; Indonesia