Global conflict set to shape health in 2026
21 Jan 2026
While issues like climate change, artificial intelligence, pandemics and chronic diseases remain important, experts say conflict is increasingly influencing both health outcomes and how health systems operate.
The editorial, titled “No health without peace,” points to the extensive impacts of armed conflict. In Ukraine, more than 2,000 attacks on hospitals and clinics have been reported since 2022. In Sudan, over 200 assaults on health facilities and workers have been recorded since 2023. The article emphasises that the effects of war are not limited to battlefields; civilians and communities far from conflict zones are also affected.
“Conflict affects all areas of health and the way care is delivered,” the editorial notes. “Peace isn’t just a bonus — it underpins the ability to keep people healthy.”
Worldwide, the number of state-based conflicts reached at least 61 in 2024, the highest on record. Research also shows that even people who follow conflicts through media coverage can experience stress, anxiety, and ongoing mental health issues.
Locally, Dr Karen Spielman, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests in Psychological Medicine, says the mental health effects of violence are being felt in communities such as Bondi following the 14 December attack. Clinicians are working to identify people at higher risk of long-term problems, connect them to appropriate care, and provide support to prevent conditions like PTSD.
The editorial comes as Australian GPs report mental health as a leading reason for patient visits, with 71% citing it as a top concern — up 10% since 2017.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: The Lancet, BMC Psychiatry, newsGP
