Switzerland must prepare its hospitals for war, the country’s Council of States has voted.
The Council of States approved on Thursday a committee motion calling for a strategy to guarantee quality healthcare in the event of a major crisis like war.
This is urgently needed, according to MP Franziska Roth, because hospitals across Switzerland are currently not equipped to handle the consequences of a crisis such as an armed conflict.
Currently, hospitals across the country can treat around 50 multiple trauma patients at a time, she said. The army’s emergency care capacity is also limited.
The Federal Council and the cantons must clarify the roles and responsibilities of each party, make the necessary legal adjustments, and then have the budget ready to handle medical care.
The National Council will weigh in on this issue next.
