Singapore has launched a World Health Organization (WHO)-certified Emergency Medical Team (EMT), designed to provide rapid medical assistance during both local and international emergencies. Known as the Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT), this unit can be deployed within 72 hours to disaster-hit areas, delivering critical care during the most life-threatening moments immediately after a catastrophe. This development underscores Singapore's growing role in regional and global disaster relief efforts.
SGEMT’s certification by WHO sets it apart as a self-sufficient unit, capable of generating its own electricity, producing clean water, managing waste disposal, and housing its personnel. This self-sufficiency ensures the team can operate without further straining local resources, especially in areas where infrastructure may have collapsed. The EMT will comprise 33 medical, technical, and administrative professionals, able to deliver emergency services, primary care, and maternal and child health outpatient care to over 100 patients daily for up to two weeks.
Collaboration and Readiness of the Singapore Emergency Medical Team
In collaboration with SingHealth and partners such as ST Engineering, Singapore Emergency Medical Team SGEMT personnel are trained not just in medical expertise but in logistics, sanitation, and other critical operations necessary for emergency response. Healthcare professionals, including emergency specialists, midwives, and psychologists, were equipped with skills to handle water, sanitation, and hygiene technologies, ensuring smooth and efficient deployments.
Psychological readiness is also a priority, with clinical psychologists supporting the team before, during, and after deployments to cope with the emotional demands of working in disaster zones. This inclusion marks Singapore’s EMTs as unique, with a holistic approach to caring for both disaster victims and the team members themselves.
Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, highlighted Singapore’s commitment to strengthening regional disaster response capabilities at (Singapore Emergency Medical Team) SGEMT’s inauguration. He pointed out that the team was established in just 18 months—an impressive feat compared to the several years taken by other teams globally.
A Regional Response Hub
As the 13th country in the Western Pacific region to host a WHO-verified EMT, Singapore joins a network of 40 WHO-certified EMTs worldwide, ready to respond to emergencies such as earthquakes, cyclones, and other natural disasters. ASEAN, which has faced nearly 1,900 natural disasters since 2012, will benefit from Singapore’s readiness to deploy the Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT) in support of regional recovery efforts. Singapore has previously responded to disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2012 Typhoon Haiyan, and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT) can also be deployed locally to strengthen Singapore’s healthcare system in times of mass casualty incidents, ensuring rapid and sustained medical intervention when needed most.
Through strategic partnerships, public healthcare institutions, and cross-government collaborations, Singapore has positioned the Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT) as a critical force for regional disaster relief and humanitarian aid. This commitment to preparedness and resilience reaffirms Singapore’s role in enhancing global disaster response capabilities.
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