BANGKOK, Sept 4 (TNA) – Thailand’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT) has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the first country in the Southeast Asia and the world’s 26th country that earned international certification.
Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha is Thailand’s representative to receive the award to congratulate Thailand for its success during the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia: RC 72 on Sept 3 in New Delhi, India.
Spearheaded by the Department of Medical Services, Thailand EMT was developed from Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), established in every province in 2013 to respond to disasters in the country.
MERT was dispatched to help disaster victims in Nepal earthquake in 2015 and a dam collapse at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Laos last year.
Somsak Akhasilp, director-general of the Department of Medical Services said his department was the EMT coordinator and focal point in response to emergency situations and disasters in the country and in the region.
Besides development of Thailand EMT, Thailand set up a three –year plan (2019-2021) to become the internationally- recognized learning center and training center in cooperation with the WHO. (TNA)
