The emergency medical assistance team of the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS) secures the WHO EMT Badge following a Verification Visit last September 16 to 20, 2024. (Photo Courtesy of DJNRMHS)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) of the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS), better known as the Tala Hospital in North Caloocan, received the prestigious Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Badge from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Receiving the WHO EMT Badge signifies the capacity of the PEMAT to provide internationally agreed and accepted standards of healthcare services during emergency situations, making them deployable to respond to humanitarian emergencies worldwide.
In the Philippines, the PEMAT of the Tala Hospital is the only medical assistance team from the National Capital Region (NCR) with the WHO EMT Badge. Other WHO-classified PEMAT in the country include the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in Luzon and Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Visayas.
Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa highlighted that beyond recognition, the hard-earned EMT Badge of the country’s emergency medical assistance teams is a testament to the commitment of the Philippines to public health and global health security as a whole.
“WHO-recognized Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams show our commitment and capability to safeguard public health and respond to crises, both here and abroad. This is a proud moment for our country! We stand shoulder to shoulder with the international community,” said Herbosa.
“We are beyond proud with this achievement of organizing these teams who signify resilience and dedication in the name of service to the country. We are one with our fellow nations in prioritizing safety and emergency response to crises as we value each life,” he added.
PEMAT’s journey to EMT Classification
PEMAT is a self-sustaining provider of medical care during disasters or public health emergencies. It is equipped to deliver outpatient services to populations in need using life-saving facilities in a stand-alone health tent.
The emergency medical assistance team of the Tala Hospital embarked on its journey to becoming a globally certified EMT in 2018 by going through the EMT Global Classification’s 8-step pathway.
It had undergone a rigorous process of complying with the core and technical classification standards set by the WHO in terms of emergency health response required for sudden onset disasters (SOD) such as earthquake, tsunami, and flooding, among others.
On April 22, 2024, the PEMAT presented the complete evidence package of its capability to meet the required minimum standards for EMT Global Classification during a Pre-Verification Visit from WHO representatives.
READ: PH emergency medical team moves one step closer to getting the WHO EMT Badge
The PEMAT of Tala Hospital is classified as EMT Type 1-Fixed. This means that it can provide daytime outpatient services to care for both trauma and non-trauma presentations, referrals, and other community-based primary care in an outpatient fixed facility. It also has an on-call team available to provide life-saving care overnight for emergency cases.
Following a Verification Visit September 16 to 20, 2024, PEMAT received the WHO EMT Badge after demonstrating its capability in clinical management, logistics, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The WHO Singapore Emergency Medical Team and Japan Disaster Relief awarded the EMT Badge to the emergency medical assistance teams of the Tala Hospital, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, and Eastern Visayas Medical Center, officially recognizing their inclusion in the EMT Global classified teams.
To date, there are only forty-six (46) emergency medical assistance teams worldwide to have reached the EMT standard of the WHO. Three (3) of which are from the Philippines.
The WHO also acknowledged the Philippines as the only country with three (3) EMT Type 1 teams in one verification schedule. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
