Healthcare Under Attack: A Growing Threat to Global Health Security

As conflicts escalate worldwide, a disturbing trend is emerging: the deliberate targeting of healthcare infrastructure and personnel. This escalating assault on medical facilities, workers, and patients not only violates international humanitarian law but also severely undermines global health security, leaving vulnerable populations without access to essential care. Recent data reveals a significant rise in attacks, demanding urgent attention and coordinated action to protect healthcare in conflict zones.

The Rising Tide of Attacks on Healthcare

The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) documented an alarming 3,623 attacks on or obstruction of healthcare in 2024 – the highest number of incidents ever recorded. The British Medical Association (BMA) highlights that these attacks are not isolated incidents but rather a disturbing pattern of disregard for international laws protecting healthcare.

These attacks manifest in various forms, including:

• Bombing and raiding of hospitals and clinics
• Illegal repurposing of medical facilities for military operations
• Destruction and hijacking of ambulances
• Looting and blockade of medical supplies
• Assaults, arbitrary arrests, kidnapping, torture, and killing of healthcare workers
• Patients being shot in their beds or forcibly removed from hospitals

International Humanitarian Law and the Protection of Healthcare

The protection of healthcare in armed conflict is enshrined in international humanitarian law, specifically the Geneva Conventions. These laws establish fundamental principles, including the distinction between civilians and combatants, the necessity and proportionality of harm to civilians, impartiality, and humanity. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that medical personnel, facilities, and transports must be safeguarded, and care must be provided without discrimination.

The principle of medical neutrality dictates that doctors must practice – and be permitted to practice – medicine fairly and justly without interference from belligerents, adhering to obligations of impartiality, meaning without bias based on nationality, class, gender, ethnicity, religion, or other non-clinical factors.

Impact on Population Health and Global Health Security

The deliberate disruption of healthcare services has catastrophic consequences for population health. Attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel abandon vulnerable populations without access to essential medical care, exacerbating existing health crises and hindering disease prevention and control efforts. This not only leads to increased morbidity and mortality but also undermines the long-term health and stability of affected communities.

The escalating attacks on healthcare represent grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, demanding greater accountability and political support to protect health systems and civilians during war.

Addressing the Crisis: Recommendations for Action

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach involving:

• Strengthening the enforcement of international humanitarian law and holding perpetrators accountable for violations.
• Increasing political support for the protection of health systems and civilians in armed conflict.
• Improving data collection and monitoring of attacks on healthcare to better understand the scope and nature of the problem.
• Providing support and training to healthcare workers in conflict zones to enhance their safety and resilience.
• Promoting awareness among all stakeholders – including governments, armed groups, and humanitarian organizations – about the importance of protecting healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• Attacks on healthcare are increasing globally, representing a serious threat to health security.
• International humanitarian law provides clear protections for healthcare, but these are frequently violated.
• The disruption of healthcare services has devastating consequences for population health.
• A coordinated, multi-faceted approach is needed to address this crisis and protect healthcare in conflict zones.