Japan DMAT Secretariat International Operations: Building Disaster Medicine Capacity Through Global Collaboration and Training

Summary: The Japan DMAT Secretariat’s International Operations Section supports international requests to share Japan’s disaster medical knowledge. Its activities include technical transfer to developing countries, organizing disaster medical symposia, and gathering advanced insights to enhance Japan’s disaster response systems. A review of Japan DMAT Secretariat International Operations Section activities were conducted. The results of the review include: International Collaboration and Technical Transfer - Japan has provided disaster medical expertise to developing and neighboring countries, drawing on its experience from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Initiatives include technical transfer across Asia and joint symposia with the US and South Korea. Participation in International Conferences and Workshops - Japan DMAT actively shares knowledge at international forums, such as the APCDM and NDMS Summit, presenting Japan’s disaster medical achievements. Training and Hosting Programs - Japan DMAT provides technical support through training to countries like Moldova, Ukraine, and Taiwan, assisting them in building local disaster medical systems. Field and Operational Training - Collaborative training with organizations like the U.S. ASPR strengthens mutual disaster response capabilities, including tabletop and field exercises for potential large-scale disasters. Knowledge Exchange and Cooperative Frameworks - Regular exchanges with countries like Israel, Taiwan, and South Korea support disaster medicine knowledge sharing and cooperation. The International Operations Section is essential in advancing disaster medical knowledge and technologies globally. To further expand these activities, resource and budget support are needed, along with deeper cultural and political understanding tailored to the partner country’s needs. Given Japan’s risk of large-scale earthquakes, the section’s work fosters smooth coordination with international medical teams, leveraging these collaborative relationships.