Healthcare to be strengthened in the event of war
Northern Sweden, Gotland and the east coast are three areas where the need for healthcare is expected to be greatest if war breaks out in Sweden. At the same time, planning is getting under way for emergency hospitals in northern Sweden.
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The National Board of Health and Welfare, the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Defence Research Agency have analysed how a war might affect Sweden, and what demands it would place on the healthcare system.
The agencies have identified three areas where the need for healthcare in the event of war is expected to be greatest. These are northern Sweden, Gotland and the east coast.
Planning for emergency hospitals in northern Sweden
At the same time, work is beginning on planning for emergency hospitals in the four northern regions. Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland Härjedalen will be the first to develop emergency hospitals. No new hospitals will be built; the idea is that emergency hospitals should build on the healthcare provision that already exists. The planning involves reviewing staffing, premises, equipment and management.
– Sweden is a diverse country, and the needs in the event of war will also vary. That is why we are not seeking a single solution. Together with the regions, we need to identify what capacity is required and how it can be built up where it is needed, says Björn Eriksson, Director-General of the National Board of Health and Welfare, in a press release.