Germany prepares hospitals for possible war with Russia, Bloomberg reports
Berlin acknowledges that there is still a great deal of work ahead (photo: Getty Images)
Germany is increasingly preparing for a scenario in which it would have to join other NATO countries in militarily defending against Russia. One of the key issues is the state of the country's healthcare system, Bloomberg reports.
Across Germany, government authorities are assessing the state of the healthcare system and related infrastructure, trying to determine how prepared they are for a possible wartime scenario.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius previously warned that Russia could attack NATO territory by 2029. If that happens, Germany would be obligated to participate in the defense of the Alliance.
Due to its geographical location in the center of Europe, the country would likely play an important role in transporting troops and receiving the wounded.
The Bundeswehr analyzed possible scenarios of a war between Russia and NATO and concluded that, during certain periods, Germany could receive up to 1,000 wounded service members per day.
The country's five military hospitals would not be able to handle such an influx on their own. Under German law, civilian hospitals would also be required to provide care in the event of war.
This could place unprecedented pressure on the healthcare system and force medical personnel to allocate resources between military and civilian patients.
"Is our healthcare system prepared for this? The only answer is: No," said Benedikt Friemert, chief medical director and commander of the Military Hospital in Ulm.
According to him, Germany still has a long way to go in its preparations.
The issue, though, is not limited to the number of hospital beds. German authorities also need to strengthen medical supply chains and establish more effective cooperation between military and civilian healthcare facilities.
If war breaks out, Bundeswehr medical units would provide care to wounded service members directly near the combat zone. They would then be transported to Germany, where government authorities would distribute patients among civilian hospitals.
Another problem is Germany's dependence on imports of medical components. Like many other European countries, it relies heavily on China for key substances needed to produce antibiotics, painkillers, and other medicines.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently declared the "beginning of a real war" with Germany.
His threat came after Berlin officially accused Russia of attacking Leipzig Airport.
