Author: army.cz|Caption: LZTOP vehicle
Representatives of the Military Medical Agency and the Material Center of the Technical Services in Štěpánov took over the first four LZTOP (Light Terrain Vehicle of Medical Evaucation) vehicles. The remaining fifteen pieces will be taken over by the Army by the end of the year.
The 6th Medical Battalion of the Military Medical Agency will be the first to use them, the others will go to the battalions of the other elements of the Army.
LZTOP is equipped with a medical superstructure on the chassis of Iveco vehicles already in use by the Army. It can transport two patients on stretchers and one seated paramedic, or one stretcher and at least two seated patients and one seated paramedic.
It can operate within a range of 500 kilometers for a maximum time of 16 hours without replenishing medical supplies, water and fuel. The construction and equipment ensures easy loading and unloading of the wounded, their equipment and armament, as well as the entry and exit of seated patients and paramedics. "At the same time, the superstructure enables the performance of medical procedures necessary to rescue the wounded or sick, ie operations of a non-surgical nature and basic resuscitation," Brigadier General Zoltán Bubeník, Director of the Military Medicine Division, said.
See also: Brigadier General Zoltán Bubeník - Committee of Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO (COMEDS)
Vehicle equipment will increase the level of provided emergency care. In addition to General Bubeník, Colonel Ladislav Šlechta, director of the Military Medical Agency, which was heavily involved in the purchase and who will be the first to receive these vehicles, came to see the four new pieces at the Medical Supplies Center in Bystřice pod Hostýnem. "Their equipment will significantly increase the level of emergency care provided during patient transport, not only during their possible deployment in foreign operations, but mainly during peaceful life and training of units in the Czech Republic," General Bubeník emphasized the benefits of the new vehicle during his visit.
In contrast to the Iveco Zdrav LOV vehicle used in missions, this car is not equipped with ballistic protection, and is therefore intended mainly to ensure the evacuation system of the Czech Army's medical service in field and peace conditions in medium-difficult terrain and on roads.
"The Military Medical Agency must be able to fully reflect the requirements of the medical care of all units of the Czech Army. From my point of view, the modernization of the medical vehicle is extremely important for maintaining the capabilities of medical service centers, battalions and field hospitals in the areas of providing primary care, first aid and the ability to transport patients to medical facilities, " Colonel Šlechta confirmed.
The Military Medicine Division of the Ministry of Defense is responsible for conceptual and control activities and for the professional and methodological management of the military health care sector. It manages the planning of material and financial resources in the field of military health care. It ensures the fulfillment of the tasks of the service body responsible for military expertise under the professional responsibility of its Director, who is Chief of the Military Medical Service and represents the Ministry of Defense in the NATO Committee of Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS).
The Military Medical Agency is a professional element for the management and organization of the provision of health services and veterinary care of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic in operations on the territory of the Czech Republic and abroad and in securing Alliance forces in the Czech Republic. It is responsible for the handling of medical and veterinary material, medicines, medical devices and addictive substances. It is an executive element with a department-wide scope for the implementation of health care, hygienic-anti-epidemic and veterinary security and an element responsible for the training of canine specialties and biological protection of troops. It is a powerful element for providing field health care.
Source: army.cz