Published in 2026 in the Asian Journal of Healthcare Analytics, the study found that many Indonesian hospitals have already adopted environmentally friendly initiatives such as energy efficiency programs, water conservation, waste reduction, and green open spaces. However, implementation remains uneven and fragmented because many hospitals still lack integrated organizational strategies.
The research highlights a growing concern over the environmental impact of hospitals. Healthcare facilities operate 24 hours a day and consume large amounts of electricity, water, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Hospitals also produce significant volumes of medical and domestic waste, making them one of the most resource-intensive institutions in the public sector.
According to the researchers, the concept of a green hospital should not be limited to green buildings or waste management alone. Instead, it should be understood as a comprehensive organizational transformation involving management systems, workplace culture, leadership, employee behavior, budgeting, and institutional decision-making.
The study used a narrative literature review approach by analyzing scientific journals, government regulations, policy documents, and case studies related to green hospital implementation in Indonesia. The researchers examined organizational factors such as leadership, governance, employee engagement, environmental accountability, and resource management.
The findings identified six major factors that determine the success of green hospital implementation in Indonesia.
The first and most influential factor is leadership commitment. The study found that hospital leaders play a central role in determining whether environmental programs become long-term institutional priorities or remain short-term projects.
Hospitals with strong leadership commitment were more likely to integrate sustainability into strategic planning, allocate resources for environmental programs, and encourage employee participation. In contrast, hospitals that treated environmental initiatives merely as administrative obligations often struggled to sustain their programs.
The researchers emphasized that hospital leaders must position environmental sustainability as part of operational efficiency, service quality, workplace safety, and institutional reputation rather than viewing it as an additional burden.
The second factor is internal governance. The study stressed the importance of written policies, environmental standard operating procedures, cross-departmental coordination, and the establishment of dedicated “green teams.”
Many hospitals in Indonesia were found to implement isolated environmental activities without integrating them into broader organizational systems. As a result, sustainability programs often depended on individual initiatives rather than institutional commitment.
The researchers argued that green hospitals require collaboration between clinical units, administrative departments, logistics, sanitation teams, and financial management to ensure that sustainability becomes a shared organizational responsibility.
The third factor is support for human resources. The study revealed that employee engagement significantly influences the success of green hospital initiatives. Staff members who feel supported by their organizations are more likely to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors such as energy saving, waste sorting, and resource efficiency.
The research also showed that job satisfaction strongly correlates with support for green hospital programs. This suggests that healthy workplace culture and effective internal communication can strengthen employee participation in sustainability efforts.
Training and awareness campaigns were identified as critical tools for building environmentally responsible behavior among healthcare workers. According to the researchers, organizational culture does not emerge automatically but must be developed through consistent institutional efforts.
The fourth factor involves resources, including budgets, infrastructure, technology, and information systems. Many hospitals were found to face financial and technical limitations that hinder the implementation of environmental programs.
Despite these challenges, the study noted that investments in green hospital initiatives can produce long-term benefits, including reduced electricity costs, lower waste management expenses, water savings, and improved institutional reputation.
The researchers also emphasized the importance of environmental monitoring systems that track energy use, water consumption, chemical usage, and waste generation. Without reliable data, hospitals may struggle to measure the effectiveness of their sustainability programs.
The fifth factor is external support through regulations, partnerships, and professional networks. Indonesia already has several regulations related to hospital environmental health and medical waste management, but implementation remains fragmented across institutions.
The study found that Indonesia still lacks a strong national model for green hospitals that could serve as a benchmark for other healthcare facilities.
For that reason, collaboration with organizations such as Global Green and Healthy Hospitals and World Health Organization was considered important to strengthen knowledge sharing and institutional learning.
The sixth factor is environmental accountability. Hospitals need measurable indicators to evaluate the success of sustainability programs, including energy reduction, recycling rates, waste reduction, and operational efficiency.
The researchers warned that many environmental programs fail to expand because their benefits are poorly documented. Without clear reporting systems, hospital leaders may find it difficult to justify continued investment in green initiatives.
The study also identified several major barriers to green hospital implementation in Indonesia. These include limited funding, weak coordination between departments, insufficient monitoring systems, inconsistent organizational culture, and the heavy operational workload faced by healthcare facilities.
Environmental programs are often perceived as additional work unrelated to clinical services, especially in hospitals already under pressure to meet patient care and accreditation demands.
The researchers also pointed to disparities between hospitals. Large urban hospitals generally have better access to technology, partnerships, and human resources, while smaller hospitals often struggle to meet minimum environmental standards.
According to the authors, the future of green hospitals in Indonesia will depend on whether sustainability can become a core principle of hospital governance rather than an optional program.
When sustainability is integrated into institutional strategy, hospitals can simultaneously achieve environmental, operational, financial, and reputational benefits. Green hospitals can also strengthen climate resilience and improve the long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s healthcare system.
Author Profiles
Eka Widya Citra is an academic from Universitas Muslim Indonesia specializing in hospital sustainability and environmental health.
Ade Triansyah is affiliated with Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu and focuses on healthcare management and hospital policy studies.
Anjar Budi Astoro is a researcher from Lembaga Akreditas Fasilitas Kesehatan Indonesia with expertise in healthcare governance and accreditation systems.
Research Source
Citra, E. W., Triansyah, A., & Astoro, A. (2026). Organizational Support for Green Hospital Initiatives in Indonesia: A Literature Review. Asian Journal of Healthcare Analytics, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 181–200.
0 Komentar