Sudan health system on brink of collapse as over a third of facilities shut, MSF warns

More than one‑third of Sudan’s health facilities have ceased operations, according to a recent assessment by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The organization attributes the shutdowns to a sharp reduction in humanitarian funding combined with ongoing conflict that has disrupted supply chains and displaced health workers. Of the roughly 3,500 clinics and hospitals surveyed, over 1,200 are either partially functional or completely closed, limiting access to essential services such as maternal care, vaccinations and treatment for chronic illnesses. The funding cuts, which began after major donors scaled back contributions in early 2024, have forced MSF and other NGOs to curtail outreach programs and postpone planned expansions of mobile health units.

The deteriorating health landscape is exacerbating an already fragile humanitarian situation, with the World Health Organization warning of rising rates of malaria, diarrheal disease and malnutrition in regions where facilities are offline. UN agencies have called for an immediate replenishment of aid budgets to prevent a collapse of the health system and to safeguard vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons and children. Without renewed financial support, the proportion of nonoperational health sites is expected to increase, further undermining Sudan’s capacity to respond to public‑health emergencies.