Almost a hundred UK-Med medical and humanitarian professionals have received the Humanitarian Medal in recognition of their service during some of the world’s most challenging emergencies.
The medals, conferred by His Majesty The King, recognise the contribution of those who have supported humanitarian responses on behalf of the United Kingdom.
The recipients include clinicians, logisticians and other specialists who have deployed with UK-Med and the UK Government’s Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT), delivering essential healthcare to communities affected by conflict and disaster.
Many have supported UK-Med’s response in Gaza, where teams have worked alongside Palestinian colleagues to provide emergency, surgical, primary and rehabilitative care amid immense pressure on the health system. Other recipients are being recognised for their service during emergency responses across the Middle East and Africa.
The Humanitarian Medal was introduced by the UK Government to recognise people who respond to humanitarian emergencies in circumstances that demand a significant contribution, often in difficult or dangerous environments.
David Wightwick CMG, CEO of UK-Med, said:
“Each of these medals represents an extraordinary commitment to helping people at moments of profound need. Our teams work in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, bringing not only their professional expertise but also compassion and courage.
“We are immensely proud to see 98 UK-Med colleagues receive this recognition. It also reflects the collective effort behind every response – from the national colleagues who sustain vital services in their own communities to the teams and partners who make each deployment possible.
“Although these medals docus on individual service, the work they represent is always a team effort. Above all, it is driven by the needs and resilience of the people and communities we are there to support.”
Kirsty McNeill, Minister for International Development and Humanitarian, said:
“My heartfelt congratulations to these remarkable recipients of the UK’s Humanitarian Medal, which recognises the incredible dedication and selfless service of individuals on the frontline of the UK’s responses to some of the world’s most devastating crises.
“Every day, humanitarian workers put themselves in harm’s way to bring food, healthcare, shelter and protection to communities facing crisis. Yet the challenges they face have rarely been greater: more than 250 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance this year alone. Despite the scale of the problems, these extraordinary people are determined to be part of the solution. They are the best of us and we celebrate them today.”
Recognising humanitarian service
The 98 recipients represent a wide range of clinical and operational roles essential to delivering emergency healthcare. These include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, logisticians and specialists responsible for establishing and maintaining medical facilities in complex environments.
Many are drawn from the NHS and bring skills developed across the UK health system to international emergencies. They work alongside locally recruited colleagues, national health authorities and international partners to strengthen – not replace – existing services.
A proud tradition of UK medical humanitarianism
Born of the NHS, UK-Med has responded to international health emergencies for more than three decades. Its global register brings together more than 1,500 professionals from over 70 countries and more than 50 specialisms, ready to deploy when crises threaten people’s access to healthcare.
UK-Med is a World Health Organization-verified Emergency Medical Team and the delivery partner of the UK Emergency Medical Team, which provides emergency healthcare on behalf of the UK Government with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Through its new 2026–2031 strategy, Prepare, Respond, Learn: Saving lives in a changing world, UK-Med aims to help at least two million people affected by complex emergencies while strengthening national and international capacity to respond.
