The Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, stands as the largest underground hospital in the world, ready to operate in emergency conditions. Located just over 137 kilometers from the border with Lebanon, the hospital was born out of the need for a medical facility that could function during times of crisis, particularly in the aftermath of the Second War against Lebanon, which heavily impacted the region.
Professor Rafi Beyar, the director of the Rambam healthcare campus, spearheaded the expansion of the hospital, which now boasts over a thousand hospital beds and specializes in trauma care, cardiology, and pediatrics. The hospital’s underground complex, located in the basement of the building, covers three levels and 20 thousand square meters, with areas designated for triage, hospitalization, surgery, and monitoring.
In preparation for potential wartime scenarios, the staff at Rambam undergo constant drills to ensure seamless patient transfer and uninterrupted operation for up to 72 hours without water or electricity. The hospital has become a crucial healthcare facility in the region, serving as a high specialty reference for 12 district hospitals and caring for civilian and military patients alike, including personnel from the United Nations and American troops.
Despite the ongoing conflicts in the region, the Rambam hospital is seen as a beacon of cultural coexistence, as patients from all over the world receive care at its facilities. Amit Nachari, a resident of Israel, highlights the hospital’s technological innovations and multicultural environment as points of pride for the country.
The Rambam Hospital continues to demonstrate Israel’s contribution to the world in the field of healthcare while promoting diversity and unity among its patients and staff.