Paramedics during an emergency drill. (Archive image)
© dpa
The German Armed Forces Medical Service is rehearsing the rescue chain and care of wounded soldiers in the event of a NATO alliance case - partners include the Berlin Senate Health Administration and four Berlin hospitals, among others.
"Our participation in Medic Quadriga is another milestone in our systematic preparation for emergency and crisis situations," said Health Senator Ina Czyborra. "This also includes hybrid crises or possible military situations." According to the announcement, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, and the Bundeswehr hospital will participate in the exercise on the core exercise days from Wednesday to Saturday (March 4 to March 7) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
According to the German Armed Forces, "Medic Quadriga 2026 is the largest and most complex exercise conducted by the medical service since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine." More than 1,000 soldiers and around 250 civilian participants from the federal government, state governments, and non-governmental organizations are taking part. "For the first time, large-scale patient transport to Germany and further patient care there will be trained – and thus also the final links in the rescue chain."
"The changed threat situation is forcing us to focus even more closely on civil defense," Czyborra continued. "Various scenarios show that Berlin's hospitals will play a key role here." To ensure that medical care in hospitals is not impaired during normal operations, the Senate Health Administration is focusing on the preparation and coordination of patient transfers during the test. The Senate Health Administration also emphasized that the exercise will not affect regular emergency medical care in the capital. The participating clinics were informed and involved in a timely manner.