German hospitals are preparing for an influx of patients and will be treating thousands of wounded – Bloomberg
On September 16, it was reported that medical facilities in Germany are preparing for a possible large-scale conflict within NATO. The Bundeswehr anticipates up to 1,000 wounded per day, so hospitals are setting up shelters, stockpiling supplies, and strengthening defenses against drones.
These preparations have intensified in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and hybrid attacks in Germany. Among the most recent incidents, Bloomberg cites an attempted drone attack carrying explosives on Leipzig Airport and cyberattacks against medical facilities.
The Bundeswehr believes that, in such a scenario, the country’s five military hospitals would quickly reach the limits of their capacity. Therefore, a significant portion of the wounded would be admitted to civilian hospitals, which would likely have to treat both military personnel and civilians simultaneously and conduct medical triage.
At the military hospital in Ulm, officials are considering the possibility of restoring a Cold War-era underground medical bunker designed to accommodate up to 2,000 people for 90 days. To bring it back into service, the ventilation and power supply systems must be modernized.
German hospitals are also evaluating the possibility of installing protective barriers against drones and bulletproof glass, building up additional stockpiles of medications, and converting underground facilities into shelters. Separately, civilian surgeons are being trained to handle mass casualties and wartime injuries.
“Is our healthcare system ready for this? The only answer is no,” said Benedikt Frimert, chief medical director of the military hospital in Ulm.
One of the problems remains the shortage of trained specialists: according to estimates, only a few hundred doctors in Germany have experience treating war-related injuries, Bloomberg reports.
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