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Helthcare in Danger The protection of health services (comprising health care personnel, medical vehicles and medical facilities) is vital for universal healthcare. If the delivery of health care is disrupted through direct or threatened violence, access to health care is restricted. Violence against patients and health-care workers is one of the most overloaded humanitarian issues today. WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan addressed this topic as something dear to her heart during the 67th World Health Assembly. “Healthcare is under attack now more than ever. We should be clear these are attacks on patients, hospitals, ambulances, violating international human rights law. These attacks have become widespread, which must not be tolerated as the new norm. We need to re-educate the world about the situation that is totally unacceptable. We must remind all parties concerned on their responsibility on what can and needs to be done by the international community. Healthcare personnel must be protected and not let vulnerable to attack”. The solution lies in prioritizing health over political differences. No one, organization or government, can address these issues alone. We need partnership between UN, humanitarian agencies, NGOs and local health authorities. Governments can systematically record violations and work for regain respect to the medical ethics and international humanitarian law in their society, as data collection helps to create a stronger case. We need dialogue, discussion, and clear adherence to the commitments to humanitarian law. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross summed up the impact: “Entire populations suffer when
healthcare workers flee and systems disintegrate”.
How does the above relate to IFMSA? For one, we’ll be the future physicians dealing with these issues. But the situation is already affecting medical students around the world, as there are reported attacks on students as well. International society needs to be mobilized in order to jointly address this topic through accountability systems and reporting mechanisms. To create momentum in fighting attacks on health care we need to spread awareness, starting with, yes, and medical students.
www.ifmsa.org
Stijntje Dijk SCOME Director 20132014 scomed@ifmsa.org
Moa Herrgård LO to Human Rights and Peace 2013-2014 lrp@ifmsa.org
Medical students and future health care workers should understand the current situation and actions needed to be taken in order to find a solution. IFMSA will work together with the World Medical Association, International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Council of Nurses to discuss a joint strategy on limiting danger in healthcare. We hope to be able to involve you all into tackling these very severe and pressing issues. We need your voices to be heard for the right to health and the sanctity of health, to be respected by all and at all times. We as medical students can take actions and contribute to a solution to this problem. References [1] ICRC Healthcare in Danger Project: http://www.icrc.org/eng/what-we-do/safeguarding-health-care/solution/2013-04-26-hcid-health-care-in-danger-project.htm [2] Protection of Health Services - IFMSA policy Statement: http://www.ifmsa.org/Media-center/ Policy-Statements/Protection-of-Health-Services [3] IFMSA Blogpost Healthcare under Attack: http://ifmsa.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/wha-67healthcare-under-attack/