Effective coordination of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) is crucial for timely and efficient humanitarian response during health emergencies. In collaboration with WHO EURO, RKI supported an EMT Coordination Cell (EMTCC) training from 16-22 March 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

Organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the WHO Country Office Lithuania, and conducted jointly with the German EMT National Focal Point at ZIG 3 and the Lithuanian EMT, the training brought together 32 participants from the Baltic States and other EURO member states, including Germany. Attendees included EMT experts, representatives from national health ministries, WHO country offices, NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and the European Union.

The training focused on setting up an EMT Coordination Cell within national health structures, requesting and receiving international EMTs, coordinating with national and international stakeholders, as well as effectively using the new Knowledge and Information Management in Emergencies Platform (KIMEP). A highlight of the course was a simulation exercise, where participants could apply their knowledge by managing a full EMTCC operation in a realistic emergency scenario. Graduates of this course are now part of an international EMTCC expert pool and can be deployed by WHO to support local authorities during health crisis.

The training was conducted as part of the RKI project "Emergency Medical Teams Twinning, Training, Transfer of Knowledge" (EMT TTT), which contributes to strengthening the global WHO-led EMT initiative. The project is funded by the German Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit) under the Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP). Building strong coordination is key to improve emergency response. RKI is committed to continuously contributing to this effort through training and capacity strengthening.