International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Supporting Healthcare Workers on the Frontline of Conflicts; Comment on “Human Resources for Health in Conflict Affected Settings: A Scoping Review of Primary Peer Reviewed Publications 2016–2022”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Andrew MY Lim 1
Kevin KC Hung 1, 2, 3
Chi Shing Wong 2
Chunlan Guo 4
Joyce TK Ching 2
Emily YY Chan 2, 3
Colin A. Graham 1, 2, 3
1 Emergency Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
2 Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
3 Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
4 Department of Geography and Resource Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
10.34172/ijhpm.9457
Abstract
The rising trend of conflict-related deaths, the repeated attacks on healthcare facilities, and violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) seen in recent conflicts are not only worrying but also deserve our collective attention and efforts. The scoping review on human resources for health in conflict-affected settings (CAS) from 2016 to 2022 by Onvlee and colleagues provides a timely reminder of the need for immediate relief and the longer-term support needed to provide healthcare in these extremely challenging settings. In this article, we reflect and elaborate on some of the key findings from Onvlee et al, including attacks on healthcare, the performance of healthcare workers (HCWs), and long-term strategic planning for the health workforce in CAS.
Keywords
Attacks on Healthcare
International Humanitarian Law
Violence Against Healthcare
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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 14, Issue 1
2025
Pages 1-4

  • Received Date 10 September 2025
  • Revised Date 04 November 2025
  • Accepted Date 05 November 2025
  • First Published Date 12 November 2025
  • Published Date 01 December 2025