Polish medical institutions are actively preparing for crisis scenarios, including potential armed conflict. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health are developing joint plans to create a network of underground hospitals, train personnel, and reserve beds for military needs. This is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities amid tensions in the region.
In recent months, Polish hospitals have begun to practice responding to situations involving war, disasters, and major crises. According to Alexander Michalski, head of the Military Hospital in Lublin, medical personnel are training to work in basements, dust, and dirt—scenarios similar to those encountered in the field. “Every hospital must be prepared for threats. In the event of an escalation, the role of civilian institutions will increase,” he emphasized in an interview with Radio ZET.
Special attention is paid to traditional surgical skills: modern doctors are accustomed to minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery, but in wartime, they will need to be able to operate on open wounds and multiple injuries. There are plans to create a “Disaster Medicine Laboratory” to simulate extreme conditions.
The Ministry of Defense will allocate up to PLN 5 billion for infrastructure modernization. A key element is the construction of underground facilities and shelters, which can be used as operating rooms in peacetime. The inspiration comes from Ukraine, where underground hospitals save lives under fire.
Starting in November 2025, specialized courses for medical professionals will begin in the underground sections of military hospitals. Plans include a reserve of beds (at least 75 per 10,000 residents in some regions) and the integration of civilian and military healthcare systems.
Poland is not alone in these preparations: France, Germany, and the Baltic states are taking similar measures. According to Politico, Eastern European countries are strengthening hospitals with mobile units and training in the treatment of combat injuries—explosive wounds, burns, and amputations.
Experts emphasize that the healthcare system is the Achilles heel in the event of conflict. Only 8% of hospitals are fully prepared for threats, and medicine supplies are often insufficient. However, the authorities are taking steps to increase resilience.
“We are living in the most dangerous times since World War II,” said Defense Minister Vladislav Kosiniak-Kamysz, announcing a program to prepare citizens. Preparing hospitals is part of this strategy to minimize losses in the worst-case scenario.