Lithuania Considers Underground Hospital Infrastructure Amid Security Concerns

Kaunas Clinics in Lithuania is exploring the construction of underground hospital infrastructure, a concept gaining traction globally as nations assess their resilience against extreme situations. Kęstutis Stašaitis, the clinics' director of medicine and nursing, highlighted that recent experiences like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine underscore the critical importance of healthcare system robustness, not just medical advancements.

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The idea of an underground hospital might sound unusual, but it's no longer just theoretical in the world. Increasingly, discussions focus on how to ensure hospital continuity during emergencies or war, so such visions are gradually turning into real projects in countries facing the threat of war.

Stašaitis explained that the idea is not futuristic but a component of long-term national security planning. "The idea of an underground hospital might sound unusual, but it's no longer just theoretical in the world," he stated. He emphasized that vital hospital services must continue regardless of external circumstances. "During military conflicts, hospitals become direct targets or can be affected by nearby hostilities," he noted. "However, regardless of what is happening around, there are processes in the hospital that cannot be stopped for a minute."

These essential services include intensive care, emergency surgeries, hemodialysis, and emergency room operations. To safeguard both patients and medical staff, hospitals need protected spaces capable of maintaining operations under duress. While Kaunas Clinics already has underground tunnels, they are not equipped for medical services. Stašaitis stressed the need for developing modern, protected underground infrastructure, drawing on international best practices.

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However, regardless of what is happening around, there are processes in the hospital that cannot be stopped for a minute. This includes the work of intensive care units, emergency surgeries, hemodialysis, interventional procedures, the activity of the emergency department, and many other life-saving services.

The Ministry of Health, however, has declined to evaluate the Kaunas Clinics' plans, citing concerns that the information could be exploited by "hostile forces." This cautious approach reflects the sensitive security environment, even as the need for enhanced preparedness is recognized.

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Therefore, in the long term, we must think about the development of modern protected underground infrastructure, based on the best experience of other countries.