Getting ready for bombs: Europe's healthcare systems prepare for the unthinkable

As Europe braces for the possibility of a wider conflict, governments are pouring money into defence, strengthening NATO's eastern flank and preparing their militaries for a more dangerous security environment.But there is another frontline that risks being overlooked: Europe's health sector; its hospitals, healthcare workers and public health systems.From missile and drone attacks to chemical, biological and radiological threats, a major conflict could put healthcare systems under unprecedented pressure.And with artificial intelligence opening up new possibilities — and risks — in biotechnology, the threats facing Europe are becoming harder to predict.A prepared healthcare system is not just a matter of public health. It is also a matter of national security, according to Brigadier General Petter Iversen, Norway's Surgeon General and chair of NATO's Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services.“Healthy society, it's a resilient society,” Iversen told Euronews. “If you are resilient, you can withstand the pressure from the adversaries.”That means preparing for more than the immediate consequences of a military attack. It means ensuring hospitals can cope with mass casualties, that medical supplies remain available, that healthcare workers know how to operate in extraordinary circumstances and that countries can adapt when several emergencies strike simultaneously.The new biological threatOne of the biggest uncertainties comes from the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its potential use in biological research.While AI…