Many of the projectiles launched by Hezbollah They hit near the Rambam Medical Center, so doctors attended for the first time under the fire of the enemy. In addition, all patients were lowered to the basements, who were not prepared for this situation.
Once the war ended, Rambam He decided that the safety of patients and medical staff would never be put at risk. In 2010, the construction of the Sammy Offer’s fortified underground emergency hospital on three levels of your parking lot.
The three parking levels total 60,000 square meters and are ready to receive up to 2,200 beds. (Roger Zuzunaga / El Comercio).
He underground hospital It was inaugurated in 2014, has the capacity to house more than 2,000 beds in an area that adds 60,000 square meters and is considered the world’s largest grounds for medical emergencies.
Commerce visited the underground hospital And he could see that he is now working as a parking lot. The place looks very clean, the floors shine and on walls and ceiling are visible the facilities ready to be mounted all the equipment that is needed to operate a hospital.
The Rambam Hospital is able to enable 700 beds in its parking lot in just 24 hours. (Roger Zuzunaga / El Comercio).
Its three plants are prepared to house operating rooms, delivery rooms, an intensive care unit, a dialysis center and a large decontamination center for the treatment of patients exposed to unconventional weapons. According to its managers, the place is not yet equipped for its maximum capacity.
When the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, two underground parking floors were occupied with more than 1,000 beds in anticipation of attacks from the Lebanon. However, today with the situation under control in the north, everything has already been disassembled.
The monitoring center of the underground hospital. (Roger Zuzunaga / El Comercio).
The interest of two governments of Europe
Monica DavidovichDirector of the Office for Latin America of the Rambam Hospitalhe told us that Before an emergency, the hospital is able to enable up to 700 beds in one day In underground parking.
He added that The whole process to have 2,200 beds in the place lasts only three days.
He argued that It is designed to resist conventional, chemical and biological attacks. It has independent energy systems, drinking water, oxygen and medical supplies, allowing it function autonomously for up to 72 hours.
The underground hospital is prepared to resist conventional, chemical and biological attacks. (Roger Zuzunaga / El Comercio).
He acknowledged that it is not easy to manage an underground hospital for a long time.
Davidovich said A space for three cars becomes a place where a bed can enter.
He also said they expected to arouse the interest of many governments about the underground hospital, but so far Only two countries in Central Europe have asked about its construction and management. It cannot say what nations it is because they have asked for confidentiality.
He added that those who have asked and shown the underground hospital are journalists.
The underground hospital also serves for emergency situations that have nothing to do with a war, because In 2020 he was enabled to welcome patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rambam hospital capacity
The Rambam de Haifa Medical Center. (Roger Zuzunaga / El Comercio).
Avi Weissmandeputy director of the hospital Rambamsaid that the medical complex has a layer to serve 2.5 million people from northern Israel per year, it also serves the Armed Forces and Before October 7 he received patients from Gaza.
Some gazati patients who were in Rambam Prior to war they still remain in the hospital because it is impossible for them to return to their homes, Weissman said.
“We are the best to treat trauma, many doctors and nurses come to learn here. We do neurosurgery without opening the cane, we use ultrasound for it,” Weissman said.
The underground hospital project was possible thanks to a significant donation of the philanthropist Sammy offertogether with funds from the Israeli government and other organizations.
