Attacks on healthcare in conflict zones are a growing crisis, undermining international humanitarian law, disrupting essential medical services, and endangering the lives of health workers and civilians. Between 2018 and 2024, WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) recorded 8,163 attacks in 22 countries, resulting in 2,948 deaths and 5,994 injuries. In 2024 and 2025 alone, 1,805 attacks have been recorded, further deepening the crisis. These attacks have immediate and long-term consequences, including the destruction of infrastructure, depletion of medical supplies, and closure of essential healthcare facilities.
Despite international legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms remain weak, and attacks persist with impunity. This urgent issue is at the heart of the World Health Assembly’s agenda, aligning closely with WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work and the shared priorities of WISH and WHO, as reflected in the joint “In the Line of Fire” report.

Event Objectives
• Strengthen Data Collection & Documentation: Highlight the critical role of WHO’s SSA and explore ways to enhance reporting, analysis, and response to attacks on healthcare.
• Sustain Global Commitment & Funding: Address the risks posed by potential defunding of WHO, emphasizing the need for sustained support for SSA and civil society documentation efforts.
• Foster Coalition-Building & Multilateral Engagement: Encourage collaboration among governments, international organizations, and humanitarian actors for a coordinated global response.
• Integrate with WHA & UN Processes: Align with WHA discussions and broader UN mechanisms, reinforcing the link between documentation, advocacy, and policy action.

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Beyond the images of destruction and the statistics of trauma lies an underappreciated truth: war is a major risk factor for heart disease. The toll is physical, psychological, systemic. Conflict triggers a silent surge in hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes—especially among those who survive, displaced and disconnected from the care they once had.

Recognising this crisis, the 10th World Heart Summit, convened by the World Heart Federation in Geneva, is dedicating a special session titled “CVD in the Aftermath of War & Conflicts”, taking place on Sunday, 18 May 2025, from 11:15 to 12:00 CEST.

Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), has been invited to deliver a 10-minute pacesetter lecture to open the session and shape the ensuing dialogue.

A seasoned global health practitioner, physician, and advocate for health equity, Dr. Slama has worked across conflict-affected regions where health systems are routinely fractured—and where the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising in the shadows of crisis.

“In war, we account for bullets and blood—but we rarely account for broken hearts,” Dr. Slama reflects. “Not just the emotional trauma, but the literal explosion of cardiovascular disease driven by toxic stress, disrupted treatment, dislocation, and despair. If we’re serious about recovery, then heart health must be part of the peace agenda.”

A Global Platform with a Deep Legacy in Conflict and Health

Dr. Slama’s presence at the summit reinforces WISH’s enduring commitment to confronting the toughest realities in global health—not least, the deliberate attacks on health systems in conflict zones.

At the 7th edition of WISH in Doha (November 2024), WISH co-launched with WHO a landmark report on “Attacks on Health in Armed Conflict”, documenting not only the scale of violence but also the moral and legal failure of the international community to protect caregivers, facilities, and patients.

This work builds on the broader vision of Qatar Foundation, whose founder, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, has long championed the cause of protecting both education and health in times of war. Her leadership, including advocacy through global platforms like “Education Above All,” has elevated this agenda from humanitarian plea to global responsibility.

WISH’s engagement in the upcoming session at the World Heart Summit is both a continuation and a call—to reframe cardiovascular care not as a peacetime luxury but as a wartime necessity.

“Rebuilding hospitals and training doctors is vital—but so is restoring the quiet continuity of chronic care,” said Dr. Slama. “If we ignore the cardiovascular crisis created by conflict, we leave people to survive war only to succumb to its long tail.”

As WISH continues to bring together health policymakers, humanitarian actors, and medical experts, this collaboration with the World Heart Federation reflects a shared urgency: to connect the dots between health security, peacebuilding, and chronic disease resilience.

Because healing after war isn’t just about reconstruction—it’s about reconnection. Especially to care. Especially to heart health.

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WISH’s presence at this prestigious summit underscores its relentless focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and its leadership as the world’s largest global health convenor, bridging the global north and south. With cardiovascular diseases remaining the leading cause of death in Qatar and the region, WISH’s advocacy and research are more vital than ever.

Dr Khan remarked, “”This forum on women’s cardiovascular health ignites a vital truth: women are more than mothers—they are fighters, leaders, and healers. At WISH, we champion this life course vision: health equity that sees, hears, and heals all of who they are, by connecting science, policy and the lived experience.”

WISH’s participation at the World Heart Summit reinforces its commitment to advancing heart health and driving evidence-based policy for healthier societies worldwide.

#WISHQatar #WorldHeartSummit #CardiovascularHealth #NCDs #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity

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WISH’s participation underscores its commitment to addressing the growing burden of NCDs, particularly in vulnerable populations and humanitarian settings. This engagement builds upon WISH’s prior work, which has highlighted the importance of integrating NCD prevention and management into emergency response efforts. WISH, as the world’s leading global health gathering, brings unparalleled expertise and influence to this critical dialogue.

“NCDs account for the majority of global deaths, and their impact is amplified in humanitarian settings where health systems are already strained,” said Dr. Slim Slama. “It is imperative that we prioritize NCD care as a core component of integrated humanitarian health responses. This Boot Camp is a vital step towards building political will, mobilizing collective action, and ensuring that no one is left behind.”

This high-level panel discussion will set the strategic tone for the Boot Camp, bringing together diverse leadership perspectives to advance the NCD agenda in humanitarian settings. Dr. Slama’s participation in this event is a precursor to closer collaboration between WISH and IFRC and partners, working towards a future where NCDs are no longer a silent crisis in humanitarian response.

“This collaboration with IFRC and its partners is a significant opportunity to drive meaningful change,” added Dr. Slama. “By working together, we can develop and implement innovative solutions that improve the lives of people living with NCDs in the most challenging circumstances.”

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