As many healthcare workers (& people using their services) are experiencing attacks, threats or harassment, a quick IHL reminder:

Under IHL, healthcare personnel/facilities/transports enjoy specific protection when they are exclusively assigned by a competent authority of a party to a conflict to medical purpose(s). Specific protection means:

1) They must be respected & protected at all times (unless they commit or are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy, outside medical functions);

2) They are entitled to use recognized emblems;

3) A loss of specific protection only becomes effective once a warning has not been complied with.

To respect means not to attack, threaten, harass or otherwise unduly impede the performance of their functions. This does not preclude verification by parties to conflict that those personnel are indeed exclusively engaged in medical activities.

Such verification (e.g. into medical facilities or at checkpoints) must minimize any disruption or delay into medical activities.

To protect means to take all feasible measures to facilitate the functioning of medical activities, to prevent medical personnel & objects being harmed, & to ensure those personnel are respected, incl. by civilians who may be attacking or harassing medical personnel.