This post was written by Dr Lu Chen, a Postdoctoral Research Associate working on HCRI’s Wellcome Trust-funded project ‘Developing Humanitarian Medicine (DHM): from Alma-Ata to Bio-tech, a History of Norms, Knowledge Production and Care (1978-2020)’.
HCRI and DHM colleagues visited Chengdu, as China’s International Emergency Medical Team (EMT) becomes the first to be reclassified under WHO’s 2021 standards.
In late October, the China International EMT (Sichuan), based at West China Hospital, Sichuan University in Chengdu, become the first EMT to be reclassified under the WHO 2021 Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams (the ‘Blue Book’).
Colleagues from HCRI were invited to observe the reclassification review, and took part in a week of training and international discussion on the future of emergency medical teams.
On 21 October 2026, DHM member Dr Lu Chen delivered a lecture titled WHO Emergency Medical Teams: History, Health Sovereignty and Nationally-led Responses at the Emergency Medical Teams Training Workshop at West China Hospital.
On 22 October, Professor Darren Walter presented at the International University Social Responsibility Summit 2026, during its sub-forum Capacity Building and International Collaborative Development of Global Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), hosted by the Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (IDMR) at Sichuan University.
Speakers from WHO, Sichuan University, West China Hospital and partner organisations discussed EMT development and operations, the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), and the role of universities in building and sustaining the health emergency workforce. The forum also marked the launch of the South-South Alliance for EMTs.
A long-standing partnership
HCRI’s relationship with Chinese EMTs dates back to 2008, when Sir Tony Redmond led a surgical team into the area devastated by the Sichuan earthquake. In the aftermath, the Hong Kong Jockey Club funded the Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction at Sichuan University to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capacity, with Sir Redmond serving as its international adviser.
HCRI went on to support West China Hospital’s journey to its first WHO classification. HCRI worked with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, building on the WHO EMT Initiative. Together they contributed to training visits that supported the capacity building of the West China Hospital International EMT as it prepared for classification and verification under the WHO Global EMT Classification List. This work also aimed to accelerate the development of an international accreditation and certification process for disaster response training based on WHO standards, with a focus on China and Asia.
In May 2018, the Sichuan team was classified under WHO’s original Blue Book standards. It became the Western Pacific Region’s first Type 3 EMT and the world’s first civilian Type 3 EMT. Type 3 is WHO’s highest category for field hospitals, providing inpatient surgical and intensive care, alongside specialist services including rehabilitation, maternal and child health, and infectious disease care.
Since its classification, the team has deployed to support emergency responses both in China and internationally. Becoming the first team reclassified under the 2021 standards is a significant milestone for the team, for the region and for the global EMT community, and HCRI was pleased to witness it.
