In Belgium, on Thursday, the health care centre has made 150 beds accessible for the patients from the war victims and the others from Ukraine. As per the details provided by the sources, the request was made to the hospitals to be prepared for the arrival of war victims in the previous week.
The head of the emergency medical service at the FPS Public Health, Marcel Van der Auwera, mentioned on Wednesday that the hospitals do have not only the responsibility of the war victims but also other patients from the war-torn nations whose treatment was stopped due to the invasion.
He said, “This includes kidney patients, children, but also people who were undergoing treatment for cancer or infection, for example, but whose treatment has been stopped due to lack of resources or damaged infrastructure, and we want to offer solutions to these people.”
Currently, Belgium has made 120 of the beds available for, including 15 beds for the patients with severe injuries (Burns) as well as another 15 beds in intensive care units. The hospitals are not yet identified, which will be involved.
The federal government has already made the decision to keep the burns centre of the military hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek ready for such injured individuals.
Along with this, as per the Van der Auwera, he emphasised that Ukraine has not yet made a request for this type of assistance. Europe is responsible for managing the system for receiving and distributing Ukrainian patients around the EU, as well as any necessary airlifts.
He further explained that the initial health care centre can be ready to receive patients within three hours, “We have registered ourselves in that European coordination system, and as soon as a request comes in then we will look at it and, in consultation with hospitals, find the most suitable location for the patient.”