Health System Collapse and Essential Service Continuity in Sudan After the 2023 Conflict: A Scoping Review of Primary Care, Maternal Services, and Supply Chains (2023–2025)
1
Public Health Research and Health, shayoub Pharmaceutical lab, Khartoum, Sudan
2
Sudanese Academy of Young Scientists, Sudanese Academy of Young Scientists, Khartoum, Sudan
3
Palestine polytechnic university, Elkalil, Palestinian Territory, Occupied
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Armed conflict is a major driver of health system collapse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Following the April 2023 conflict in Sudan, the national health system experienced severe disruption affecting service delivery, workforce capacity, surveillance systems, and access to essential medicines and preventive services¹,².
OBJECTIVE:
This scoping review aims to map available evidence on the impact of the 2023 Sudan conflict on core public health functions, identify key system-level gaps, and highlight priority areas for recovery and resilience.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines³. Peer-reviewed articles, humanitarian situation reports, and grey literature published between April 2023 and March 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, WHO, OCHA, UNICEF, and relevant UN agency platforms. Data were charted across predefined domains including service availability, health workforce displacement, surveillance disruption, immunization coverage, and supply chain breakdown.
RESULTS:
Evidence indicates widespread closure or partial functionality of health facilities, acute shortages of skilled health workers due to displacement, and fragmentation of disease surveillance systems¹,². Routine immunization coverage declined sharply, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks⁴. Supply chain interruptions led to critical shortages of essential medicines and laboratory consumables, further limiting system responsiveness¹,⁵.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Sudan conflict has resulted in a multidimensional collapse of public health system functions. Strengthening health system resilience, restoring surveillance and immunization services, and supporting frontline health workers are urgent priorities. Coordinated national and international recovery strategies are essential to mitigate long-term population health consequences.
Armed conflict is a major driver of health system collapse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Following the April 2023 conflict in Sudan, the national health system experienced severe disruption affecting service delivery, workforce capacity, surveillance systems, and access to essential medicines and preventive services¹,².
OBJECTIVE:
This scoping review aims to map available evidence on the impact of the 2023 Sudan conflict on core public health functions, identify key system-level gaps, and highlight priority areas for recovery and resilience.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines³. Peer-reviewed articles, humanitarian situation reports, and grey literature published between April 2023 and March 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, WHO, OCHA, UNICEF, and relevant UN agency platforms. Data were charted across predefined domains including service availability, health workforce displacement, surveillance disruption, immunization coverage, and supply chain breakdown.
RESULTS:
Evidence indicates widespread closure or partial functionality of health facilities, acute shortages of skilled health workers due to displacement, and fragmentation of disease surveillance systems¹,². Routine immunization coverage declined sharply, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks⁴. Supply chain interruptions led to critical shortages of essential medicines and laboratory consumables, further limiting system responsiveness¹,⁵.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Sudan conflict has resulted in a multidimensional collapse of public health system functions. Strengthening health system resilience, restoring surveillance and immunization services, and supporting frontline health workers are urgent priorities. Coordinated national and international recovery strategies are essential to mitigate long-term population health consequences.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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