German Bavarian State health minister Judith Gerlach has called for war-ready hospitals amid rising military threats from Russia and NATO uncertainty under the second term of US President Donald Trump.
“The military threat to Europe from Russia and the new US President Trump’s possible departure from the existing security partnership also mean a massive need for action for the German healthcare system and civil society as a whole,” she said in an interview with German newspaper Augusbergh Allgeimene published on March 17.
As likely incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of cuts ahead of the proposed Federal Financial package tht would increase national borrowing, Gerlach said she wanted the country to implement nationwide programmes to prepare hospitals for possible conflict.
She called for a comprehensive civil operations plan to prepare the German healthcare system to maintain the current level of medical and nursing care for citizens and additionally to be able to treat injured soldiers.
German authorities are identifying bunkers and bomb shelters where people could take refuge in the event of an attack on the country. https://t.co/7SGZiO0VNA
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 26, 2024
“This is about nothing less than preparing the entire healthcare system for all types of crises – including all types of military attacks,” she said.
“Because an intact healthcare system is just as important for a country’s defence as the Bundeswehr [Germany Federal army],” Gerlach added.
Her plan involved what she called appropriately adapted standards, infrastructure, and stockpiling. “Above all, we must make bold decisions – including what can be dispensed with in times of shortages: from reporting requirements to standards and audits to personnel requirements,” emphasised the Christian Social Union MP.
Gerlach insisted that Germany also had to streamline bureaucracy, relax regulatory requirements during shortages of critical medication and shield hospital IT systems from foreign cyberattacks.
“The IT infrastructure must be protected against foreign attacks. Germany and Europe must also become more of a production location for the pharmaceutical industry again,” she said.
She further stressed the need for Germany and Europe to restore pharmaceutical production capacity, warning, “We must secure our medicine supply.”
Gerlach also floated the idea of civilian services being used in the healthcare system, arguing that it was as important as possible military conscription.
“We should not only discuss possible military conscription but also civilian service to support facilities with limited staff,” she said.
Her comments came as Belgium’s Ghent University has been taking similar steps, incorporating war-victim training into its medical curriculum.
Belgian doctors in training will receive extra education to prepare them for war victims, according to senior staff at Ghent University. https://t.co/icoBMdZmyn
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 6, 2025
