Did the Ministry of Health really ask hospitals to prepare for a “high intensity war”?

“The Ministry of Health mobilizes hospitals for war.” This is the worrying title given Wednesday, August 27, an article published by Le Canard Enchaîné. In its edition, the satirical newspaper explains, documents in support, that the Ministry of Health sent instructions to regional health agencies that encouraged them to prepare, within a year, for an “important commitment”, the media that evoked “a war of ‘high intensity.”

Although he indicated that hospitals must prepare to welcome thousands of wounded soldiers, the Minister of Health and Labor, Catherine Vautrin, gave him a less alarmist line during an interview with BFMTV-RMC this Wednesday, August 27.

“This is part of anticipation, such as strategic actions, such as epidemics. It was not parked at the time of COVVI-19, to remind us, there were no difficult words about the country’s deposit,” said the government member before adding:

“It is completely normal for the country to anticipate crises, the consequences of what is happening. This is part of the responsibility of the central administrations.”

The documents consulted by the Duck Enchaîné indicate in particular the need to reflect on the construction of medical centers that can accommodate patients in case of armed conflict, the centers that will be located not far from a bus station or a port, for example.

Russia a “ogre on our doors”

The minister evokes the preparation for “crisis”, without taking advantage of the term of war. It is the same approach as the government when the preparation of a brochure is prepared on the practices that will be adopted in case of a crisis. The “all resilient” brochure must be distributed in autumn and a “sub -spelling” will be dedicated to the war according to a source close to the file contacted by our RMC colleagues.

The fact is that these two preparation points acquire a particular dimension against the international geopolitical context. The President of the Republic continues to emphasize the danger of Europe, while the war libra by Russia in Ukraine continues.

According to Emmanuel Macron, “Putin is an ogre on our doors”, a “predator” that “does not want peace,” according to his statements on August 19. The Head of State described the Russian President “threat to Europeans” in LCI.