News

The Emergency Medical Teams and other Rapid Response Capacities team (WHO Geneva) and Learning Solutions and Training team (WHO Lyon), both part of the Department of Country Readiness Strengthening, co-organized a meeting in Lyon, France from 12-15 December 2023 to discuss strengthening rapid response capacities through Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). The meeting brought together over 50 national representatives and WHO regional and country office colleagues from 15 countries across all 6 WHO regions, with an overall goal to expand recommendations for strengthening RRT and EMT programme integration and begin discussions to develop a framework for monitoring and evaluation.

RRTs and EMTs are multidisciplinary teams trained for swift deployment during health crises. Their role is crucial in bolstering emergency responses, aligning with International Health Regulations, fortifying Global Health Security and Health Emergency Preparedness and Response capacities. The meeting builds upon a 2022 scoping project conducted by WHO and US-CDC assessing the integration of national RRT and EMT programmes across 14 countries. 

During the meeting, countries had the opportunity to showcase their operational models that integrated the systems of RRTs and EMTs, providing practical examples of how these models were applied in their specific contexts.  The focus remained on local preparedness being vital for effective emergency responses, emphasizing the need to develop national and sub-national capacities alongside international support organizations.  The meeting covered a number of topics, including the definition and scope of RRTs and EMTs, benchmarks for establishing and operating integrated RRTs and EMTs, and the role of monitoring and evaluation in improving the effectiveness of teams.

Discussions also revolved around defining public health RRTs and their role in relation to national EMTs, diving into the specifics and nuances of these teams' functions within the broader spectrum of the emergency response cycle. Participants actively highlighted the necessary resources, acknowledging the importance of adequate planning and allocation to facilitate successful integration between RRT and EMT programs. 

Ultimately, the meeting will shape guidance documents for RRT/EMT integration and build the foundations for a global monitoring and evaluation framework, significantly contributing to global health emergency preparedness, readiness and response strategies.

Overall, the meeting served as a platform for sharing diverse experiences, refining definitions, and laying the groundwork for cohesive integration strategies for rapid response capacities.