Healthocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic destruction of health services, including health infrastructure and personnel. This new term aims to raise awareness about violations of international law concerning attacks on healthcare. The humanitarian community has responded with mixed reactions. Reports indicate a troubling increase in attacks on healthcare globally, with over 3,600 incidents reported in 2024, reflecting a 62% rise since 2022. Unlike previous views of attacks as collateral damage, current incidents are becoming strategic components of conflict, raising serious concerns among health advocates.
"We mean the intentional, systematic destruction of not only health care infrastructure, hospitals, health care workers, medical supply lines," says co-author Joelle Abi-Rached.
"Attacks on health care are now seemingly part of the strategy of the conflict," he says. "And that is new and it's very, very worrisome."
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