Germany's Healthcare System Prepares for Potential War Scenarios

In Germany, the healthcare system, hospitals, and critical supply chains are being restructured according to emergency scenarios against a potential state of war and attacks on NATO territory.

War Scenarios and Wounded Evacuation

According to calculations by the German Armed Forces, a potential attack on NATO territory could bring up to a thousand wounded soldiers into the country per day. While the capacity of five military hospitals is expected to be reached, laws dictate that civilian hospitals must also provide support.

In this context, a large-scale exercise simulating an attack on Lithuania was conducted to test the transfer of the wounded to civilian hospitals in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Measures for Companies and Supply Chains

Biotechnology company CSL calculates that a significant portion of its employees may leave due to reserve military service or volunteer activities. The company is exploring ways to maintain critical drug production.

While dependence on China in medical supply chains constitutes a major area of vulnerability, institutions like the Ulm University Hospital are trying to increase stocks of certain essential drugs.

Physical Resilience Studies of Hospitals

Hospitals across Germany are evaluating measures such as bulletproof glass and drone barriers to increase their physical and logistic resilience.

Ulm University Hospital is examining whether its underground parking garage can be converted into a long-term emergency shelter.

Legal Regulations and Political Process

There is broad political support for updating legal regulations that will enable the healthcare system to operate under wartime conditions.

While the timeline for the Health Security Act draft has been postponed to autumn, it remains uncertain whether the new target will be met.