WHO Collabo­rating Centre for Emergency Medical Teams

The German National Focal Point for Emergency Medical Teams (EMT NFP) at the Robert Koch Institute is designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for EMT. Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) provide rapid emergency medical assistance during health crises as a surge capacity in support of the local health systems.

 

Led by WHO, the global EMT Initiative brings together national and inter­national EMT partners from across the humanitarian and health emergency land­scape. Key features of the EMT Initiative are standards setting and quality assurance, capacity building, as well as coordination during emergencies.

As a WHO Collaborating Centre, the German EMT NFP at ZIG 3 supports the EMT Initiative of WHO particularly by:

  • Supporting WHO in strengthening EMT capacities at regional and country level – by opera­tionalising EMT Twinning partner­ships, supporting regional and inter-regional networks of EMT stake­holders (“EMT Communities of Practice”), as well as developing outbreak response capacities;
  • Providing strategic-level support and advocacy to the EMT Initiative – by advancing the implemen­tation of the EMT 2030 Strategy at regional and global levels;
  • Providing technical assistance to WHO in the develop­ment of guidelines and best practices in selected EMT areas of work.

The designation of the WHO CC for EMT on 21 November 2025 is the result of the long-lasting contri­bution of both the German EMT NFP Team and the German EMTs to the EMT Initiative, and builds on the strong partner­ship and collab­oration with WHO.

Head of the WHO CC

  • Prof. Dr. Johanna Hanefeld, Head of department Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG)
  • Veronika Wolf, CC Focal Point, unit ZIG 3 Prepared­ness and Operations Support, EMT NFP Team

Coordination

This Collaborating Centre at the RKI is located at unit ZIG 3 Prepared­ness and Operations Support, EMT NFP

 

 

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