Germany prepares hospitals for war: Bloomberg on inspections and wartime plans

German authorities are conducting large-scale inspections of hospitals and medical infrastructure across the country, assessing their readiness for wartime conditions.

This is reported by Bloomberg.

According to the outlet, government agencies are examining healthcare systems and infrastructure to determine whether they can withstand the strain in the event of a defense scenario. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that by 2029 Russia may be in a position to strike NATO territory. In that case, Germany, located at the center of Europe, would likely become a key transit hub for military personnel and a site for their medical treatment.

Bloomberg suggests that an underground hospital in Ulm, built in 1979 at the height of the Cold War in case of a nuclear strike, could be reopened.

“Is our healthcare system ready for this? The only answer is: no. A marathon lies ahead of us,” said Benedikt Friemert, chief medical director and commander of the Military Hospital in Ulm.

Among the planned measures are strengthening medical supply chains, improving coordination between military and civilian hospital systems, and training specialists through courses for civilian surgeons on mass casualty response and the treatment of combat injuries.

In March, a strategy was tested under which, in the event of war, Bundeswehr medical units would treat wounded soldiers at the front and then transport them to Germany, where government agencies would direct the casualties to civilian hospitals.