Germany unprepared for wartime medical needs, health minister warns

Germany’s health minister has called for the country’s healthcare system to be better prepared for potential wartime conditions, warning that current levels of readiness are insufficient.

Nina Warken told the weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag that Germany had not done enough to prepare its medical infrastructure for crisis scenarios, DW reports. 

"So far, we have been too little prepared," she said.

Warken stressed that contingency planning must ensure not only the continued care of the civilian population but also treatment capacity for injured personnel from the German armed forces and allied NATO countries.

She indicated that the government intends to introduce legislation aimed at strengthening the resilience of the healthcare system.

"In summer, we will be presenting a bill on a law to bolster health care to try and close this flank," she said, adding that authorities would work closely with the military on the matter.

According to Warken, improving preparedness will involve enhanced training for medical staff to handle crisis situations and war-related injuries, as well as identifying personnel who already possess relevant expertise.

At the same time, she noted that these preparations would not necessarily alter the government’s plans to shut down some smaller hospitals as part of ongoing healthcare reforms.

"We can't keep structures open just because a defense scenario possibly occurs," she said.

By Sabina Mammadli