The institute is “the pearl in the crown” of Polish medicine, known for its advanced quality medical services and concern for patients. This is simply a brand to which we have large confidence," said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish, inaugurating a technological conference devoted, among others, to the function and challenges of military wellness services. It was organized by the Military Medical Institute and the Academy of Land Forces.
"State wellness system: the function of the military wellness service and its tasks during war and peace" is the title of today's technological conference organised as part of the 60th anniversary Military Medical Institute. Next to WIM, its co-organizer was the Academy of Land Forces in Wrocław.
In his beginning speech, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the key function of WIM in the wellness system, peculiarly in the context of military safety and support for regional medical facilities. – The Institute, presented as “the pearl in the crown” of Polish medicine, is known for its advanced quality medical services and concern for patients. It's a place where patients get what's most crucial in treatment: hope, help, rescue and life. All these years you have built a brand to which we have large assurance today," said the head of the MON. He thanked the full staff and all staff for their contributions to the improvement of the institute and regular service to patients.
The national defence minister recalled plans to make a Medical Army Component in which WIM is to play a key role. "The experience of the battlefield in Ukraine has completely changed the optics of action compared to Iraq and Afghanistan. present it is simply a completely different philosophy, and in order to implement it, a medical component is needed. WIM is to be its foundation, bringing in cognition and experience gained in the field of combat and in technological research," Kosiniak-Kamish emphasized.
Film: Magdalena Miernicka, Aleksander Kruk/ ArmouredTV; Source: MON
In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister besides raised the question of the cooperation of WIM with another medical institutions. Thanks for his cooperation during the crisis on the east border, erstwhile the institute surrounded the care of the infirmary in Hajnówka, among others, he called for patronage ‘hospital to the Shazers’ over region and border hospitals, especially in Podlaskie Voivodeship. “Because of staff and hardware shortages, your support is essential there,” said the head of the MON. He besides stressed the function of WIM in the improvement of technological programs, modern medical technologies and wellness prevention. – It is even launched this year program related to fast reporting of illness hazard after tick bites in soldiers. Thank you for all soldier you have saved, whom you have restored to full efficiency," said the Minister of Defence.
Jacek Siewiera, State Secretary at the Chancellery of the president of Poland, besides spoke about the function of the Military Medical Institute in the context of defence needs of Poland. He pointed out that in the current geopolitical situation, as a front country, Poland must be ready for possible threats, and this requires the improvement of military wellness services. – We are at a minute in past where we have no retreat. The key to expanding the country's defence possible is to defend the lives of soldiers and reduce losses in the military, and 1 way to accomplish this goal is to increase the efficiency of medical care for soldiers. present we do not have the chance to close our eyes to the request to make the Medical Army Headquarters," said Siewiera.
The conference held 4 discussion panels. The first was devoted to a fresh approach to medical support for the 21st century army. "A fresh approach to theatre of activities besides means changing attitudes towards issues related to medical security. It cannot be based on creating conditions for mass access to medical assistance, as was the case in the erstwhile decades. The war in the east clearly showed that the decisive origin for protecting wellness and life is the quickest possible access to medical assistance at the highest possible level – indicated the general of arms prof. Grzegorz Gielerak, the manager of WIM, during the inaugural lecture. He admitted that to meet fresh challenges, the modern military wellness service must undergo a transformation. “It is crucial to integrate modern technologies with conventional methods, to supply advanced quality medical care and to rise standards of protection of soldiers’ health,” said WIM director.
During the debate, Dr. Karol Dymanowski, 1st Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, stressed that changes in the military wellness strategy are part of a broader plan to modernise the army, implemented in four-year cycles and designed for position until 2039. – How the military wellness service will be developed must consequence from operational plans and our options for responding to threats. Therefore, the main aspects of improvement will focus on 3 areas: organisational, technological and cultural. If I were to apply the model that I think should describe medical troops in the future, it would be "three times A": adaptation, that is, strategy mobility, adequacy, that is, matching the reality of the battlefield, and alternativeity," the general said.
Brig-Gen Mariusz Skulimowski, head of the logistics board – P4 SGWP, discussed the challenges of building operational capabilities in the military logistics system, with peculiar emphasis on the medical subsystem. – The key component of it are adequate, adequate for the operation, structure and people prepared to care for soldiers. The strategy must supply guarantees that in the event of injuries, soldiers will receive the highest quality medical assistance," the general pointed out. He admitted that medical structures must be adapted to modern realities. This includes moving distant from old battalion solutions for mobile medical safety teams that can be deployed quickly. The challenges, as pointed out by Brig. Gen. Skulimowski, besides concern modern technologies: drones, monitoring systems for the vital functions of soldiers and evacuation platforms, as well as production capabilities of manufacture and cooperation with government agencies. – All of this must be a coherent system, ready to respond rapidly to different operational scenarios, both allied and coalitionary," added the general.
Dr. Beata Zysiak-Christ of the Academy of Land Army focused on training in field medicine, which are passed by the subjects of Wroclaw University. She admitted that while the main emphasis is on learning applicable rescue skills, there is besides a request to make the skills of fellow workers in the field of combat, in pre-hospital conditions. – This is highly important, due to the fact that many soldiers do not know the content of individual medical kits (IPMed), many cannot decently usage the dressing. Yet, they should know how to control massive bleeding, 1 of the main causes of death in the battlefield. So, if we are to save, there must be people around us who realize how to give this help," said Dr. Zysiak-Christ.
The discussion besides addressed issues of intellectual support in the military. Col. Dr. Katarzyna Rałędowska, manager of the Centre for Veteran Activities outside the State Borders, admitted that while awareness of the command staff on this issue is growing, the stigmatisation of the usage of intellectual and psychiatric assistance among soldiers remains a problem. – It is crucial to decision this awareness down to the lower levels. It must be made clear that caring for intellectual wellness is of large importance for the efficiency of the ministry and should be treated as something natural. It cannot be that a soldier does not usage specified help, due to the fact that he is afraid of isolation, bad opinion or being expelled from the army – said Colonel Naldowska. She besides highlighted the request to make a care strategy that will make soldiers feel that they are not alone in hard situations. “Today we have facilities specified as the Veteran Treatment Centre, which offers assistance, but it is essential to further make these structures throughout the country,” said the manager of the Veteran Centre.
During the second panel, experts discussed the management of the medical support strategy during the crisis and war. This part of the discussion was attended by Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State in the MON, Gen. Div. Karol Molenda, Commander of the Cyberspace defence Army and Colonel Arkadiusz Kosowski, manager of the MON Department of Military wellness Service. Another panel was devoted to the management of medical personnel and auxiliary personnel in the Armed Forces of Poland. Experts, speaking about key issues in this area, wondered, among others, how, in view of the competitiveness of the civilian market, an attractive offer of recruiting the army to medical personnel should look, and what are the most crucial challenges of not only the recruitment process, but besides the maintenance of qualified medics.
In the last panel on the coordination of medical support between civilian and military structures, among others, were the Gen. Guns Dr. Krzysztof Król, Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, Commander of the 18th Mechanicalised Division, and Brig. Gen. Marcin Górka, manager of the MON Innovation Department.
Honorary patronage over the conference was assumed by Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish.
