Attacks on health care in war must not become a new norm

In 2022, 1,989 acts of violence against, or prevention of, health care in conflict were reported in thirty-two countries and territories, according to the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC). This is an unacceptable situation that the Centre for Health Crises and the Swedish Society of Medicine want to draw attention to, starting with a seminar on the evening of 2 May.

Focus on Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine

The seminar paid special attention to attacks on healthcare in three current conflicts: Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. After a short introduction by Johan von Schreeb, Director of the Centre for Health Crises, and Tobias Alfvén, President of the Swedish Society of Medicine, four international experts presented different perspectives on the issue. Sally Alexandra Longworth, Assistant Professor at Stockholm University, highlighted the legal perspective, while Rohini J Haar, Assistant Professor at UC Berekley and Medical Advisor at the organisation Physicians for Human Rights, emphasised attacks on healthcare as an attack on human rights. Rafael van den Berg from the WHO then presented the organisation's mandate in this area, definitions of attacks on health care and the latest research they are conducting. Finally, Ahmed Abdelrahman, Director of Operations at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), described the reality of attacks on health workers in war and conflict. 

The audience then listened to reports from health workers who are currently working, or have just finished working, in war zones; trauma surgeon Dmytro Ershov in Ukraine and surgeon Rahul Shankar Koti who has worked in Gaza, who concluded with the following comment on the need for long-term commitment: 

- "The will and the desire are there, but there is no system and there is no security. We need qualified people who can not only come here and work, but who can stay here and work". 

Will continue to work to raise awareness of the problem

The evening concluded with a panel discussion about what could be done to protect health care in war and conflict, and not least how to restore and maintain the respect for the laws and international agreements in the field. In addition to Sally Alexandra Longworth and Tobias Alfvén, the panel consisted of Anneli Eriksson, Research specialist in Global Disaster Medicine at Karolinska Institutet​, Hani Khalifa, Senior consultant in general practice with personal experience from Sudan​, ​and Niklas Kebbon, Head of the Department of International Law, Human Rights and Treaty Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was moderated by Märit Halmin, MD, expert coordinator in critical care with limited recourses at the Centre for Health Crises.

- "We must not allow the standards and norms in this area to shift. We, as health professionals, must stand up for our right, and our colleagues' right, to protection and a safe space to do their job. If we don't, we risk losing deeply held human values", said Tobias Alfvén, President of the Swedish Society of Medicine.

Johan von Schreeb, Director of the Centre for Health Crises, agrees: 

- "We must persistently remind people about this, discuss it, draw attention to it, and certainly not let it be forgotten. It is our responsibility. We must emphasise principles and morals, otherwise we risk shifting norms until we end up in a society where we don't want to be."