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- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:12 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
France’s health ministry has issued a wartime-style directive instructing hospitals to prepare for the possibility of treating thousands of troops in the event of a large-scale conflict by March 2026. The order, dated July 18 and first reported by the satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné, was addressed to regional health authorities across the country. It called on hospitals to be ready within a window of 10 to 180 days to handle an influx of both French and foreign soldiers if hostilities were to erupt.
According to the letter, medical facilities must prepare not only to treat wounded soldiers but also to accommodate temporary military-style medical centres near major transport hubs, including airports, seaports, bus depots, and train stations. These facilities would be tasked with providing emergency care or rerouting foreign troops back to their home countries for further treatment.
The document stressed that France’s healthcare system must be able to scale up rapidly in response to crisis conditions. This includes anticipating the need for field hospitals and expanding capacity for trauma and emergency care.
Health Ministry’s Defence
French Health Minister Catherine Vautrin defended the move, saying that such planning is part of responsible governance. “It is perfectly normal for the country to anticipate crises and their consequences. This is part of anticipation, just like strategic stockpiling,” Vautrin said. “Let’s not forget how unprepared we were at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This time, we cannot afford to be caught off guard.”
A government spokesperson later told Euronews Health that the directive should not be seen as confirmation of an imminent conflict. Instead, it reflects broader contingency planning for the healthcare system, which must be ready to respond to a wide spectrum of potential crises.
“The health ministry’s job is to prepare for threats the healthcare system could face,” the spokesperson explained, listing epidemics, environmental disasters, and malicious risks alongside potential military scenarios.
While the leaked letter highlighted the treatment of soldiers, officials emphasised that such readiness measures also build resilience against any large-scale emergency, from natural disasters to pandemics.
Growing Geopolitical Tensions
The directive comes against a backdrop of heightened global tensions, particularly in Europe, where the ongoing war in Ukraine has raised questions about NATO preparedness and the possibility of wider escalation. France, a key NATO member, has been actively bolstering both its defence posture and civilian infrastructure resilience.
