Achieving Universal Health Coverage for Oral Health by 2030 in Armed Conflict-Affected Settings: Challenges and Pathways.

BACKGROUND

In 2025, over 110 armed conflicts were reported globally, affecting an estimated two billion people. Oral health remains critically neglected in conflict-affected settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where it is deprioritised amid competing health demands. Despite commitments made at the 2024 WHO Global Oral Health Meeting and through the Bangkok Declaration, existing policy frameworks insufficiently address the challenges of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for oral health in these contexts.

AIMS: To examine the systemic barriers to implementing the Bangkok Declaration in conflict-affected settings and propose context-sensitive policy pathways towards achieving UHC for oral health by 2030.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This commentary draws on field-based evidence and relevant global oral health policy frameworks to critically examine the application of the seven strategic areas of the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 in armed conflict settings.

RESULTS

This commentary presents a novel analysis of the implementation challenges across the seven strategic areas: governance, oral healthcare service delivery, health workforce, promotion and prevention, health information, research and environment. Disruptions to governance, infrastructure, financing and data systems undermine the delivery of oral healthcare and progress towards UHC in conflict-affected populations.

DISCUSSION: Achieving UHC for oral health in conflict-affected settings requires tailored approaches that account for health system fragility and competing humanitarian priorities. Proposed policy pathways include integrating oral healthcare into emergency response packages, securing sustainable funding for oral healthcare and expanding digital workforce training.

CONCLUSION

Advancing the Bangkok Declaration in conflict-affected settings requires context-sensitive policies that address the systemic barriers to oral healthcare. Ensuring that conflict-affected populations are included in global oral health commitments is essential to achieving equitable progress towards UHC for oral health by 2030.