Kinmen Hosts Military-Civilian Medical Drill; MND Aims to Establish SOP

(Central News Agency, reporter Wu Wen-rong, Kinmen, June 3) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) conducted a 'Military-Civilian Medical Integration Drill' in Kinmen today, simulating the transformation of health centers into emergency stations and the management of mass casualties at hospitals. MND Vice Minister Chung Shu-ming stated that after this drill, he hopes to establish an SOP for reference by units in various regions.

The drill sequentially covered items such as 'Establishment of casualty collection points and rescue stations,' 'Casualty rescue at medical stations and forward surgical teams,' 'Transformation of health centers into emergency stations,' and 'Management of mass casualties at MOHW Kinmen Hospital.' MND Armaments Vice Minister, General Chung Shu-ming, along with Army Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Chang Tai-sung and Kinmen Defense Command (KDC) Commander Lieutenant General Huang Hsien-jen, inspected the drill at locations including Xiaojing Camp, Huagangshi Hospital, Jinhu Township Health Center, and Kinmen Hospital.

The drill also included setting up a medical space in the basement of Kinmen Hospital to simulate sheltering from artillery fire, conducting physical casualty response drills to realize wartime bunker medical functions.

Chung stated that whether on the main island or outlying islands, people are not very clear about the process from when a civilian is injured in wartime to receiving final medical treatment. 'In my personal opinion, this military-civilian medical drill was done very completely and very well,' he said.

Chung noted that a drill cannot be perfect, but it is at least a starting point. He hopes to establish a more complete SOP based on the collaboration between Kinmen Hospital, the Health Bureau, the Fire Bureau, and the military's triage stations, which can be provided to hospitals and fire bureaus in various regions for reference.

He also pointed out that prior to this drill, one session was held in southern Taiwan. This year, drills will be conducted sequentially in outlying islands and various regions on the main island to review and refine future directions.

The KDC, which executed the drill, stated in a press release that the purpose of this military-civilian medical integration drill was to strengthen the national military's integration with local medical rescue resources to respond to enemy threats and complex disaster scenarios. The command stated that troops in the defense zone, looking ahead to the extreme conditions of future battlefields, will continue to refine combat casualty care skills. Adhering to the spirit of 'One Island, One Fate, Military-Civilian Cooperation,' they aim to implement 'Total Defense Resilience,' hoping to leverage the full strength of the populace to support military operations and steadfastly guard the front line of national security.