MEDICAL SUPPORT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS LED BY ORGANIZATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Headnote

Abstract:

Appropriate medical support is key factor that positively influences will of every soldier to conduct military operations and willingness to risk his or her own health and life. It is therefore task of all personnel responsible for plan ning of military operations to take all aspects of adequate medical support into account. The paper deals with medical support of military operations led by organizations of international crisis management. The author analyses approach of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty organization and the European Union to medical support of their military operations.

Keywords: Medical support, medical support principles, medical planning, the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union.

1 INTRODUCTION

The ultimate role of military medical support - supporting the troops in performing their tasks by preserving and restoring their health and fighting strength - remains unchanged. [2] Effective medical support is fundamental to military operation success and the provision of appropriate and visible medical support demonstrates both military resolve and nation's commitments to its forces. All organizations of international crisis management have their own methodologies for planning and execution of medical support and therefore it is important for those who are responsible for medical planning to have overview all of these methodologies, because 22 European countries are members of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations at the same time.

What is more, the current global environment, development in medicine and changes in the military pushes member nations of organizations of international crisis management and as well their contributing nations toward seeking a multinational approach to medical support of military operations.

Thus there may be substantial international cooperation to provide sufficient deployed medical support for a deployed military force, which may possibly influence the military forces of host nation.

2 MEDICAL SUPPORT PRINCIPLES

The mission of medical support in military operations is to support the mission through conservation of manpower, preservation of life and minimisation of residual physical and mental diseases. [3] Health is a key force multiplier of fighting power. Only a healthy force can function at maximum effort and sustain it. Health in principle is not merely the absence of injury or disease. In its widest sense it includes physical and mental...