RIYADH — The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Saudi Disaster Medical Assistance Team (S-DMAT) as a Type 2 Emergency Medical Team (EMT), making Saudi Arabia the first country in the West and Central Asia region to achieve this recognition.

The announcement was made during a ceremony in Riyadh attended by senior representatives from the WHO, S-DMAT, the Saudi Ministry of Health, and the media.

With this verification, S-DMAT joins an elite group of only 14 Type 2 EMTs worldwide, alongside teams from the UK, France, China, and Japan. Under WHO’s framework, the team can deploy within 48 hours, providing life-saving medical care in disasters, humanitarian crises, and mass gatherings.

Saudi Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to global health challenges and humanitarian response, stating that the WHO recognition affirms Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet the highest international standards for emergency medical care and provide world-class medical support to communities in need worldwide.

Dr. Jameel Abualenain, General Supervisor of the General Directorate of Emergencies, Disasters, and Medical Transportation, highlighted the team’s mobile hospital infrastructure, surgical capabilities, and adaptability under the WHO Type 2 classification, positioning it as a regional leader in emergency medical response.

He noted that Saudi Arabia’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa enables the team to rapidly deploy medical assistance across the region, even in the most challenging conditions.

As a Type 2 EMT, S-DMAT operates a fully equipped 50-bed field hospital, capable of treating 100 outpatients, 20 inpatients, and performing 7 major or 15 minor surgeries per day.

The unit is designed to support health system decompression, enhance capacity, and function as a health command and control center in crisis situations.

S-DMAT’s field hospital is self-sufficient, equipped with its own power, water, and medical supplies, enabling it to provide critical care in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

The National Healthcare Emergency Operations Center (NHEOC) oversees the selection and training of medical professionals for S-DMAT, ensuring they meet international emergency response standards. Medical professionals across the Kingdom interested in joining S-DMAT are invited to express their interest through NHEOC. — SG