“Peace Is the Best Medicine”: WHO Chief Urges End to Attacks on Healthcare in Iran Amid Escalating Conflict

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised serious concerns over a series of attacks on healthcare infrastructure in Tehran and other parts of Iran amid the intensifying regional conflict. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, multiple health facilities have been damaged in recent days, severely impacting the delivery of essential medical services. Among the affected institutions is the historic Pasteur Institute of Iran, established in 1920, which suffered significant damage and is now unable to continue its healthcare operations. The institute has played a crucial role in medical research and emergency response, with two of its departments serving as WHO collaborating centres. Additionally, the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital was heavily damaged following a strike on March 29, while the Tofigh Daru Pharmaceutical Company facility—known for producing medicines for cancer and multiple sclerosis—was hit in a separate attack on March 31. While no casualties were reported in these specific incidents, WHO has verified over 20 attacks on healthcare facilities across Iran since March 1. These attacks have resulted in at least nine deaths, including an infectious diseases specialist and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Outside Tehran, healthcare services have also been disrupted. On March 21, an explosion near Imam Ali Hospital in Andimeshk, Khuzestan province, forced the evacuation of the facility and halted its operations.

Multiple attacks on health have been reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in recent days amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Pasteur Institute in Iran sustained significant damage and was rendered unable to continue delivering health services. The Institute… pic.twitter.com/RHILHhy5Yv

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2026

WHO warned that the ongoing conflict is significantly affecting the safety of healthcare workers, patients, and civilians, while also disrupting critical medical services across the region. Emphasizing the humanitarian crisis, Tedros reiterated a strong message: peace remains essential, stating, “Peace is the best medicine.”