Militarization of health | Left Health Forum: “Suddenly there were tanks on the medical papers”

Military medical training is increasing and medical universities are cooperating with the Bundeswehr. The militarization of medicine is advancing. Photo: imago/Florian Gaertner “Our job should be to form the hub that sends people back to the front,” says pediatrician Julius Poppel, describing the function of doctors in the event of war. Poppel is co-chair of the Association of Democratic Doctors (VDÄÄ) and speaks about militarization at the “Health Policy Forum”. “Do you want that?” he asks his colleagues.

The VDÄÄ organized the forum for the 40th time this year. It sees itself as a critical alternative to professional medical associations. From Friday to Sunday, the members and other health policy actors networked in Berlin. This year's focus was on left-wing health policy strategies.

The association began early on to deal with the militarization of the healthcare system, reports VDÄÄ managing director and medical sociologist Nadja Rakowitz. "Because we noticed that the organized medical profession suddenly had tanks on their medical journals." There are numerous examples of this development - the Hannover Medical School has agreed to cooperate with the Bundeswehr, the number of military medical training courses is increasing and a framework plan from the Berlin Senate focuses on health care in times of crisis. Crisis and war medicine are often mixed together.

"No matter how we provide, it won't be enough."

There is some criticism of this development from the organized medical profession, but overall there is a lot of agreement, says Poppel. That's why it's important to influence the professional world, such as through articles in scientific journals. The VDÄÄ organizes events and writes brochures and magazines. At the same time, doctors should be active beyond their own profession.

“As absurd and perhaps backwards as it is, the medical profession still has a social voice that is respected,” says Poppel to “nd”. »If a medical profession stands up and says we will not support war, then it probably has a social impact. And if you make it clear: no matter how we provide, it will not be enough.

The VDÄÄ is currently planning a campaign that is simultaneously directed against militarization and the dismantling of the welfare state. The idea is to make social cuts the starting point - many more people complained about this, says Rakowitz. The VDÄÄ wants to connect this with militarization. Rakowitz criticizes: "You can buy a tank, but you can't build a primary school."

As early as the 1980s, doctors organized themselves in the anti-nuclear peace movement in West Germany and the GDR. At the 4th Medical Congress in Tübingen in 1984, thousands of visitors gathered under the motto “Our oath to life obliges us to resist.”

The pharmacist Ulrike Faber from the Association of Democratic Pharmacists was herself active at the time and reports: “There was a peace movement on every corner. Whether it was booksellers, pharmacists or churches, everyone focused on the topic based on their situation and profession.” That had a big influence. However, the social mood at the time was more positive towards the movement.

Another participant in the workshop reported that he demonstrated with dozens of doctors in white coats in front of the medical association when it was asked to pass on lists of its members in the event of war. This was provided for in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1981 as part of a health law for defense cases. The law was ultimately prevented through protests - the black-red coalition is currently planning a new edition.

For pediatrician Poppel it is clear: “The solution must be exchange, diplomacy and disarmament, as was the case in the 80s. That’s where I see the role of the medical profession.”

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