The NATO Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) held its 61st plenary meeting from 4 to 6 June 2024 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Surgeons General of COMEDS also met with Senior Officials from the NATO Joint Health Group (JHG). Keynote addresses were given by Lt. Gen. Andrew Rohling, Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee, and Dr. Bryan Wells, the NATO Chief Scientist. Medical support is primarily a national responsibility but is crucial for deterrence and defense, requiring a collective approach to address common challenges within the Alliance.
During the plenary meeting, Major General Tim Hodgetts, Chair of COMEDS, emphasized the importance of collective security, resilience, and the promotion of peace and stability in an evolving world. Lt. Gen. Andrew Rohling highlighted the essential role of medical support as a key enabling factor within NATO’s operational framework. Cooperation between military and civilian medical sectors is vital for ensuring the health and readiness of forces, enhancing NATO’s ability to respond to military operations and humanitarian crises. Dr. Bryan Wells discussed key activities and developments in NATO’s Science and Technology Organization, emphasizing the opportunities and risks associated with new technologies for NATO.
The COMEDS “Medical Manifesto,” outlining proposals for medical support in collective defense, was a focal point of discussions during the plenary meeting. A special session was held to discuss the Ukraine Multi-Year Comprehensive Assistance Package and associated Rehabilitation Project, with the Ukraine Surgeon General providing a situation report and requesting support. Civil-military cooperation for medical support and healthcare delivery was a key focus of the meeting with the NATO Joint Health Group, where priorities were set for an action plan to enhance medical support for collective defense. The need to enhance the resilience of civil health services and systems in potentially contested environments was emphasized.
Brigadier General Petter Iversen from Norway was endorsed as the next Chair of COMEDS, succeeding Major General Hodgetts after the 62nd COMEDS Plenary Meeting later in the year. The meeting also included discussions with senior staff representatives from the European Commission and the European Union Military Staff on key issues of mutual interest, fostering close staff-to-staff consultations. The NATO Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services remains committed to addressing collective challenges in medical support and healthcare delivery to enhance the Alliance’s overall readiness and resilience in the face of evolving security threats.
