NPO TMAT Obtains 'WHO EMT Type 1 Mobile' Verification

NPO (Specified Non-Profit Organization) TMAT (Tokushukai Medical Assistance Team, President: Yasuyoshi Fukushima) has obtained the 'WHO EMT Type 1 Mobile' verification under the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) verification system run by the WHO (World Health Organization). Following the Verification Visit (verification review) conducted from May 16 to 17, 2026, at Yotsukaido Tokushukai Hospital in Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture, the team was certified. This is the first verification for a Japanese NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) and the 65th in the world.

What is the WHO EMT System?

The WHO EMT verification system is an international verification system by the WHO that guarantees the quality, safety, and self-sufficiency of international medical teams deployed to recipient countries in the event of health crises caused by large-scale disasters, epidemic outbreaks, or conflicts. In the 2010 Haiti earthquake, many medical teams were deployed from around the world, but there was a wide variation in the quality of medical care and activities, and a lack of coordination with the health and medical systems of the affected countries became a challenge.

In response, the WHO established this verification system by setting international standards for quality of care, patient safety, self-sufficiency, coordination with other organizations, and accountability. Among these, Type 1 Mobile is positioned as a mobile medical team that quickly deploys to disaster areas and provides primary care services centered on outpatient care.

Significance of Obtaining Verification

Through the verification review, TMAT underwent a comprehensive evaluation regarding its medical functions, infection control, pharmaceutical management, logistics (arrangement of personnel and medical equipment, information management, coordination with administrative bodies and other organizations), WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and medical waste management, and it was confirmed that TMAT meets the international standards required for 'WHO EMT Type 1 Mobile.'

In particular, the review highly evaluated (1) a stable organizational management structure based on the Tokushukai Group, (2) self-sufficient operational capabilities required for international deployment, (3) high clinical response capabilities, (4) the WASH system, and (5) the medical waste management system. Among these, the initiatives regarding medical waste management were highly praised as a best practice and were recommended to be shared at the WHO EMT Global Meeting, where disaster medical teams from around the world gather.

Obtaining this verification demonstrates that TMAT will be able to provide safe, high-quality medical support based on international standards for future domestic and international disasters and health crises.

● Comment by Sean Casey, WHO WPRO (Western Pacific Regional Office) Verification Team Leader

<Original Text> “It was a privilege to verify the Tokushukai Medical Assistance Team (TMAT) as a WHO-classified Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Type 1 Mobile. Over two days at Yotsukaido Tokushukai Hospital in Chiba on 16–17 May 2026, the team demonstrated strong clinical care and sound logistics, with the self-sufficiency required of an internationally deployable EMT. TMAT is well placed to contribute to international health emergency medical response in the years ahead, and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific looks forward to supporting that work”

<Japanese Translation> “TMATをWHO認定のEMT Type 1 Mobileとして認証できたことを光栄に思います。2026年5月16～17日の2日間、千葉県にある四街道徳洲会病院で実施された審査で、TMATは国際的に展開可能なEMTに求められる自立性を備え、高い臨床ケアと確かなロジスティクスを実証しました。TMATは今後の国際的な健康緊急医療対応に大きく貢献できるチームであり、WHO西太平洋地域事務局として、その活動を引き続き支援することを楽しみにしています”

● Comment by Yasuyoshi Fukushima, President of TMAT

“TMAT has its origin in the medical support activities during the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and was est