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Dr. Most warns: This is how endangered Germany's medical service is in war!
Dr. At an event in Kirchheim unter Teck, Bruno Most warns of deficits in the military medical service and advocates for more resources.
Dr. Most warns: This is how endangered Germany's medical service is in war!
On May 24, 2025, Surgeon General Dr. Bruno Most expressed serious concerns about the Bundeswehr's military medical service in the wake of possible war events at an event organized by the DRK district association in Göppingen. With more than 100 listeners from various organizations and authorities, he discussed the Bundeswehr's dependence on aid organizations for effective medical care. Dr. Most emphasized that investments in the medical service should also be seen as investments in civil protection and called for aid organizations to be comprehensively equipped with the necessary resources to be able to act in an emergency.
“It doesn’t work without these aid organizations,” emphasized Dr. Must. His appeal also included the need to restructure and better remunerate the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) in order to attract more volunteers for disaster relief. The surgeon general estimated that it would take at least five years until the Bundeswehr's medical service was adequately equipped. During this time he warned of a possible military buildup by Russia.
The challenges of the healthcare system in the event of conflict
The event also addressed the urgent challenges that the German healthcare system could face in a warlike scenario. Dr. Ralf Hoffmann, commander of the Central Medical Service, pointed out that the health system could be stressed even before a NATO alliance occurs, for example through cyber attacks. In the event of an alliance, the Federal Office for Civil Protection expects around 1,000 new soldiers to be added every day who will have to be cared for in clinics. This presents hospitals with enormous challenges.
Dr. Susanne Johna, chairwoman of the Marburger Bund, added that the German healthcare system is currently not crisis-proof. An adequate state financing framework is essential to strengthen the resilience of medical care. Inadequate equipment, a shortage of skilled workers and the dependence on foreign products, especially for protective equipment and medication, were cited as critical points. In addition, there are currently no emergency plans in the event of war, which is sharply criticized by the German Medical Association.
The role of civil-military cooperation
A central topic of the discussion was the civil-military cooperation in health care, which is necessary to respond efficiently in the event of national emergencies. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief supports the Bundeswehr's medical service and emphasizes the crucial role of civilian actors in the medical care of soldiers in emergencies. The support includes both pre-hospital transport services and clinical treatments in hospitals.
Dr. Most and other experts called for better protection of critical healthcare infrastructure and the decentralization of medical care. The discussion showed that the current reduction in hospital beds in Germany, as explained by Marc Lux from the district medical association, is further increasing the pressure on the existing structures. However, a functioning healthcare system relies not only on physical resources, but also on qualified personnel.
The issue of health care in the event of war is an area that requires the highest priority given global tensions and the experiences from the corona pandemic. The Health and Resilience Expert Council is pushing for immediate measures to prepare for crisis and war scenarios. Such financial and structural upgrades could be crucial to maintaining basic medical care in an emergency.