FRANCE ORDERS HOSPITALS TO PREPARE FOR WAR BY 2026

France has ordered its hospitals to prepare for a potential large-scale military conflict by March 2026.

The Ministry of Defense has sent letters to regional health agencies, urging them to quickly start preparations.

All European states had such military healthcare capabilities during the Cold War, but later dismantled them after being misled into believing war would never threaten the continent again as the West had reached a so-called “end of history.”

The letter outlines a scenario where France would serve as a “rear base” for treating wounded soldiers, both French and allied, in the event of a “major military engagement” in Europe.

Hospitals are directed to prepare for a massive influx of casualties, estimated at 10,000 to 50,000 wounded over a period of 10 to 180 days, with potential peaks of up to 250 patients per day for three days.

The Ministry of Health’s plan includes setting up medical staging centers near key transport hubs such as ports, airports, train stations, and bus stations.

These centers would stabilize wounded soldiers before their transfer back to their home countries, particularly for allied troops from NATO or EU nations.

The directive emphasizes rapid triage, treatment, and evacuation pathways to ensure efficient patient flow. Hospitals are also instructed to inventory critical resources like beds, operating rooms, imaging equipment, and blood transfusion supplies.

The letter also mandates training in war traumatology and psychological care to prepare medical staff for the physical and mental toll of wartime injuries.

It also calls for the requisition of all medical workers, regardless of specialty, to supplement the 14,000-strong French Armed Forces’ military medical service.

Staffing rotas are to be designed to withstand months of high-pressure operations, with psychological support planned for healthcare workers.

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