30.04.2026 New BMJ Opinion: When Electricity Infrastructure Is Targeted, Health Is Targeted Too

A new opinion piece by Mohammad Reza Farzanegan (CNMS, Philipps-Universität Marburg) and Reza Majdzadeh (University of Essex) highlights the critical role of electricity as a foundation of functioning health systems. Published in BMJ, the article argues that attacks on power infrastructure in conflict settings should be understood as direct threats to health.

Drawing on recent developments in Iran, Gaza, and Cuba, the authors show how electricity disruptions undermine clinical care and public health. Power outages interrupt life-saving services such as intensive care, dialysis, and oxygen delivery, while also jeopardizing the storage of essential medicines, including vaccines and insulin. At the population level, electricity cuts affect water treatment, sanitation, food systems, and communication, amplifying health risks and increasing mortality.

The article emphasizes that these effects are particularly severe in countries where health systems are already under strain. In such contexts, limited back-up capacity and fuel constraints make hospitals highly vulnerable to prolonged outages.

The authors call for a shift in perspective: targeting electricity infrastructure, or restricting access to fuel and power, should be treated as a direct attack on civilian health. They advocate a rights-based approach that includes transparent reporting, independent monitoring, and enforceable accountability. Strengthening resilience through reliable back-up systems and decentralized energy solutions is also highlighted as a key policy priority.

🔗 Read the full article: https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj.s831