Poland ready to treat thousands of wounded Ukrainians at its hospitals

Polish hospitals are ready to receive thousands of Ukrainians who need medical treatment as a result of the war with Russia, says the health minister.

The authorities have also readied a medical train that can transport the wounded to Polish hospitals from the border with Ukraine, where thousands of refugees have already been arriving since yesterday’s Russian invasion.

“Every citizen of Ukraine who comes to Poland fearing for their life or health can have access to medical care,” Poland’s health minister, Adam Niedzielski, pledged yesterday. “We will also help the wounded who cannot be treated in Ukraine. In these difficult times, Poland will stand by Ukraine.”

“We already have a list of 120 hospitals throughout the country to which victims from Ukraine may go,” Niedzielski told Wirtualna Polska. “We estimate that at the moment it would be possible to admit several thousand patients in total.”

Niedzielski also noted that the authorities are “preparing a sanitary train with full medical and rescue equipment that can transport the wounded…from the border with Ukraine”. The vehicle had been “created from scratch” and would be tested “in the coming days”.

This afternoon, Niedzielski tweeted images of the “almost ready” train, which he said would be able to accommodate up to 150 patients.

Yesterday, Poland’s health ministry exempted arrivals from Ukraine from quarantine requirements and today it issued an order allowing Ukrainians who have been crossing the border to receive coronavirus vaccines under Poland’s national vaccination programme.

Niedzielski also revealed that further plans are being prepared in case the “darkest scenario” comes about and there are even larger numbers of casualties. In that case, given that coronavirus infections are in decline, temporary Covid hospitals could instead be used for war victims.

“I hope that such a scenario will not happen,” added Niedzielski, quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

To aid those arriving at the Polish border Poland’s government has already prepared eight reception points for refugees, which will provide food, medical aid and information to those displaced following Russia’s invasion.

It has also set up a helpline (+48 22 523 88 80 for Polish citizens and those with Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka): and +48 47 721 75 75 for citizens of Ukraine) as well as online resources for those seeking assistance.

Municipalities around Poland have declared their willingness to host refugees, and a number of aid organisations, including the Polish Red Cross (PCK) and the Polish Centre for International Aid (PCPM), have launched fundraising campaigns to help Ukraine and its people.

Main image credit: Adrianna Bochenek/Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Agnieszka Wądołowska

Agnieszka Wądołowska is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza, Wysokie Obcasy, Duży Format, Midrasz and Kultura Liberalna