Lieutenant General Prof. Grzegorz Gielerak on the safety of medical equipment during a crisis: "The just-in-time model in healthcare is a sure path to disaster"
The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have demonstrated that the security of medical equipment is as important as access to medications or staffing levels. Lack of spare parts, service issues, limited availability of disposable instruments, and the risk of cyberattacks on hospital systems are weaknesses in the healthcare system that can impact the effectiveness of saving lives in crisis situations. Lieutenant General Prof. Grzegorz Gielerak explains how to address this and how we should learn from the pandemic in an interview for politykazdrowia.com.
As General Gielerak emphasizes, the experience of recent years has clearly demonstrated that the continued efficiency of medical equipment is the foundation of health security. During the COVID-19 pandemic , disrupted supply chains for spare parts and service resulted in the paralysis of many units. A report co-authored by the Military Institute of Medicine, "Safe in Crisis," indicates that simply increasing the number of beds or investing in infrastructure is not enough – ensuring the technical resilience of equipment is crucial.
Prof. Gielerak said it plainly:
No medicine, even the most advanced, functions without functional equipment. Ventilators, monitoring systems, and anesthesia machines are the backbone of modern therapy. If they stop, the entire treatment process grinds to a halt.
The Director of the Military Institute of Medicine (WIM) emphasized that Poland needs national reserves of spare parts and consumables for critical equipment. In his opinion, a strategic mechanism should be created to encompass not only pharmaceuticals but also technical components.
We need to build our own service capabilities. Polish technical teams, capable of repairs and diagnostics, can replace foreign specialists in emergency situations. This isn't a matter of prestige—it's a matter of national security," the expert explained.
The general also highlighted the potential of 3D printing and adapting domestic production lines to produce missing parts. He believes this is the only way to avoid paralysis in future crises.
According to the general , disruptions in the supply of disposable parts for advanced equipment, such as surgical robots and endoscopes, are equally dangerous. Most of these come from individual suppliers in China, which has resulted in price increases of up to 30% during the pandemic:
The security of the supply of disposable medical supplies is crucial to the continued operation of modern healthcare facilities. The problem particularly concerns specialized, disposable parts for surgical robots and endoscopes, which are imported from single suppliers – largely from outside Europe, primarily China. In crisis conditions, this leads to serious supply disruptions and price increases – as the pandemic has demonstrated, Chinese manufacturers have increased prices by up to 30% to address shortages.
And he adds:
The just-in-time model in healthcare is a surefire path to disaster. We need to create buffer stocks and develop domestic production of critical disposable products. Poland has the potential, but we still rely too heavily on imports," he emphasized.
General Gielerak noted that Poland still relies heavily on imports for disposable medical devices. He emphasized that domestic companies primarily focus on simpler products , while the resilience of the healthcare system requires more.
Currently, Polish companies are primarily focused on less advanced, non-invasive categories, such as basic disposable items. While developing domestic expertise in critical components, diversifying supply chains, and establishing production lines capable of rapidly scaling up production in crisis situations are crucial for supply security and the resilience of the healthcare system. This will reduce dependence on imports and ensure continuity of services. Poland has significant potential – exports of these products reach approximately $380 million annually – but in many areas it still relies on imports, fully justifying the support for the creation of domestic production lines for critical materials and components in the event of a crisis.
Gielerak warns that the integration of medical records and telemedicine has dramatically increased the risk of cyberattacks. He noted that over half of Polish hospitals have experienced data breaches, and in 2025, a vulnerability was discovered in the e-health system that allowed access to patient data.
Today, hackers can take control of an infusion pump or a ventilator. This isn't science fiction—it's a real threat to life. The healthcare system must implement a zero-trust model, multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and secure backups . Otherwise, we will be defenseless," the source concluded.
The General emphasizes, that system resilience is built not in crisis, but in peacetime. He points to examples from abroad: central equipment distribution platforms in the UK, the Bundeswehr's involvement in Germany, and military task forces in Israel.
We need a permanent logistics center that monitors the status of beds, equipment, and supplies across all facilities in real time. This will allow resources to be moved to where they are most needed. An integrated civilian-military system shortens response times and saves lives.
General Gielerak's words constitute a clear appeal to decision-makers: the security of medical equipment, its parts, services, and IT systems must be treated on an equal footing with medicines and personnel. Otherwise, any crisis—whether epidemic or military—threatens to paralyze healthcare.
Updated: 08/09/2025 08:00
politykazdrowotna
