Doctors will lose their reservations and join the Armed Forces: which specialists does the military need?

Meanwhile, documents for the unreservation of specific individuals will be submitted by the heads of healthcare institutions using "Dії". After that, specialists will be mobilized into the Armed Forces or other military formations according to needs, with assignments to medical positions, while contracts will be signed for a year.

"In general, the contract durations are stipulated by the law on military duty and military service. They do not expire. Moreover, the law on martial law states that the terms are automatically extended until the end of martial law," reported Safarov.

He is unsure how the norm concerning medical workers will be implemented in such cases.

"Both military personnel and any individual who signs a contract during the martial law period have the right to resign from military service when the term of the contract, signed during the martial law period, ends," said Rostislav Kravets.

He explained that medical workers and others who have entered into such contracts are entitled to demobilization unless "the law is retroactively changed and this provision is excluded." The lawyer warns to be cautious, as a resignation statement due to the expiration of a contract must be submitted three to four months before that date; otherwise, the contract will be extended for that duration.

What Medical Specialists Does the Army Need?

"These are skills for providing first aid. With certain nuances, possibly involving additional skills in blood transfusion, etc., but they are not doctors," explained Bohdan Bondarenko.

Therefore, battalions have at least a few doctors, but this depends on whether they organize, for example, a stabilization point, which is a place where the wounded are brought for more qualified assistance. It may also involve assistance that includes surgical interventions, thus requiring medical professionals at the levels of surgeons, anesthesiologists, traumatologists, etc.

According to Bondarenko, a brigade includes a medical company, and hence, they need "very high-level" doctors.

"The key for working with combat injuries is the presence of surgeons and anesthesiologists. These are the most essential and necessary positions. If we talk about the need, for instance, in the medical company to manage somatic conditions, then therapists and ENT specialists are also needed. But again, this depends on the capabilities of the brigades — whether they have these people or not," emphasized the paramedic.

He mentioned that at the stage of primary evacuation (case evacuation), a paramedic is sufficient, but it all depends on its duration. For medical evacuation, an experienced paramedic in combat injuries may suffice. However, if the medical evacuation is prolonged, anesthesiologists or surgeons with extensive experience in combat trauma are required, Bondarenko added.