Fiji’s Emergency Medical Assistance Team is ready for international deployment, becoming the first team in the Pacific with this unique capability.

Verified as a Type 1 Fixed Emergency Medical Team, FEMAT is now able to respond domestically and across the Pacific, providing a broad range of medical and emergency services for up to 100 patients per day.

Having passed a comprehensive assessment by World Health Organization in Suva last week, with observers from Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines taking part, FEMAT can provide initial emergency care for injuries and other acute health needs.

This capability was tested last Friday, with WHO and observers reviewing a full deployment of FEMAT’s ‘field hospital’, as well as all clinical care services including triage, first aid, patient stabilization and referral of severe trauma and non-trauma emergencies.

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says the verification demonstrated Fiji’s continuing investment in disaster preparedness and response, especially its commitment to high-quality and rapid health emergency response in Fiji and beyond.

Director of Pacific Technical Support Dr Corinne Capuano says with 11 disasters and 26 outbreaks in the Pacific last year, Fiji’s achievement is timely.

FEMAT is positioned among an elite network of international EMTs that can be rapidly deployed.