France preparing hospitals to care for war-wounded soldiers by March 2026

France is preparing its health system for a scenario in which it may have to treat thousands of soldiers returning from combat, in what its health minister says is a precautionary measure.

In a letter to regional health authorities dated July 18, the French health ministry reportedly directed hospitals to be ready for a potential “major engagement” by March 2026.

The ministry said France’s hospitals should be aware of the “limitations in wartime” and be ready to care for both French and foreign soldiers in the event of a major conflict.

It said hospitals should be prepared to treat thousands of soldiers within a period of 10 to 180 days, according to the French satirical newspaper Le Canard enchaîné, which first reported the letter last week. Euronews Health has not independently verified its contents.

A government spokesperson told Euronews that the health ministry’s job is to prepare for a wide range of “threats that the health care system could face,” including epidemics, environmental crises, and “malicious risks”.

As part of those preparations, the spokesperson said France’s health professionals should be ready to treat military patients in the civilian health system.

France is reportedly also considering setting up medical centres near bus and train stations, airports, and ports to “enable the rerouting of foreign soldiers to their home country,” the letter said.

In an interview with the French news channel BFMTV last week, health minister Catherine Vautrin said it is “perfectly normal for the country to anticipate crises and their consequences”.

She cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of what can happen when a country’s health system is “unprepared” to handle an emergency.

“This is part of anticipation, just like strategic stockpiling,” Vautrin told BFMTV.

Estelle Nilsson-Julien contributed reporting.

Updated September 2: This story has been updated.