Safe Field Hospitals Iranian Military Medical Care System

This paper recounts the results of a medico-technical study of the successful experience of Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. It draws mainly on the first-hand experiences of the first author in design and construction of military medical care buildings during the war. To this end, it explains five levels of military medical care system that include: (i) Medical officers equipped with medical care kits at corporal level; (ii) Battalion medical care units; (iii)Regiment field emergency units; (iv)Safe field hospital (SFH) serving two to three legions; and (v)Urban hospitals and recuperation centers. The crucial role of the SFHs in the efficiency of the entire military care system, especially during military operations, is emphasized. It is further explained that in the initial stages of the war, to provide military medical care at legion level existing buildings and urban hospitals were converted into SFHs. This policy was followed by establishing such hospitals in tents and/or prefabricated units. SFHs were then built using portal frames. Finally, special SFHs were designed and built based on the following principles: use of reinforced concrete structures covered by earth and equipped with concrete blast shields; application of camouflage, concealment and deception (CCD) techniques; proper site selection; structural isolation of diverse units; use of special anti-blast fortifications; loop entrances; modularity of compartments; use of independent and movable installations; special interior design; efficient site design; and use of multifunctional spaces.