Medical conditions disqualifying deployment into UN Peacekeeping Operations

UN medical


Failure to provide proof of having received all United Nations-mandated immunizations

Skin problems

An active skin disease such as eczema or widespread psoriasis


  1. Asthma, strong asthma-like symptoms or treatment for related illnesses within the last four years
  2. Chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis
  3. Active tuberculosis

Any known heart disease

  1. Hypertension not controlled with medication
  2. Recent episodes necessitating emergency room visits or closely monitored follow-up care
  3. Pacemakers
  4. Conditions requiring anticoagulants
  5. Coronary heart diseases

Back problems

  1. Spinal surgery (including internal fixation or fusion)
  2. Recurrent lower back pain

History of cancer

On palliative treatment, but have a requirement for periodic monitoring every six months or less

Bone and joint problems

  1. Meniscectomy (knee cartilage operation) within the last year
  2. Lower limb fractures with internal fixation (metalwork) still in place
  3. Loss of a limb
  4. Complete loss of a thumb or big toe
  5. Clubfoot (including past surgery)
  6. Chronic joint diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout
  7. Reiter’s disease within the last five years
  8. Osteochondritis dissecans

Other conditions

  1. Loss of spleen (splenectomy)
  2. Having received transplanted organs
  3. Severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
  4. Severe nut allergy
  5. Circulation problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon
  6. Insulin dependent diabetes
  7. Diseases requiring long-term medication, continuous monitoring or replacement therapy such as endocrine diseases
  8. Known allergy to or intolerance of antimalarial medication;
  9. Any immunocompromised condition, including AIDS
  10. History of being hepatitis B or C carrier
  11. Cholera

Eye disorders

  1. Chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma, keratoconus and retinitis pigmentosa
  2. Surgery for a squint within the last six months
  3. Corneal problems such as a corneal graft or recurrent corneal ulcers
  4. Loss or dislocation of an eye lens
  5. Cataract or cataract surgery
  6. Detached retina

Chronic medical conditions

  1. Regular medication(s) and where maintenance medication is of such toxicity as to require frequent clinical and laboratory follow up; or
  2. Where the chronic medical condition requires frequent follow up that cannot be delayed for the duration of the tour, e.g. malignant tumours.

Ear disorders

  1. Current perforation of ear drum
  2. Chronic ear diseases such as cholesteatoma
  3. Presence of eardrum ‘grommets’

Kidney diseases

  1. Chronic nephritis and urolithiasis
  2. Polycystic kidney disease or kidney stones
  3. Donation of a kidney within the last two years
  4. Kidney disease within the last two years

Abdominal Disorders

Chronic abdominal diseases such as Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis


Pregnant peacekeepers will be repatriated at the end the fifth month of gestation, to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the peacekeeper and her child is not put at risk.

Neurological disorders

  1. Epilepsy or more than one seizure or fit after the age of five
  2. Any seizure or fit within the last 10 years
  3. Multiple sclerosis

Psychiatric conditions

  1. Schizophrenia
  2. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  3. Alcohol or drug dependence
  4. Post-traumatic stress disorder

Blood diseases

  1. Sickle cell anaemia
  2. Congenital spherocytosis
  3. Thalassemia
  4. AIDS
  5. Being a carrier of hepatitis B or C
  6. Past history of leukaemia or malignant lymphoma. Must be disease, treatment and review free for five years

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