A. Overall/Startup/First RCD (Thailand)

RCD is one of the major activities in the development of the ASEAN standard International Emergency Medical Team (I-EMT), as well as in developing and validating the ASEAN standard operating procedure (SOP) for I-EMT coordination, and ASEAN Medical Record for Emergency and Disaster (MRED) and Health Needs Assessment (HNA) forms. Each drill was comprehensively prepared by the Project Working Group (PWG) and the Project for Strengthening the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH Project) team. Advanced planning on objectives, materials, and activities was initiated to achieve overall project outcomes.

The startup drill in 2016 was initiated to examine the current status of ASEAN Member States (AMS) I-EMTs and personal capacity, team capacity, and collaboration capacity in DHM. A variety of field operation skill-oriented stations were set up: EMT coordination, Type I fixed field hospital, and HNA. Outcomes based on an after-action review (AAR) platform were implemented and incorporated into the drill objective and activities. The major comments can be categorized into team capacity building, team collaboration capacity building, personal capacity building, and collaboration capacity building as follows: (1) Team capacity building: training in DHM (eg, information management, leadership and teamwork, coordination, survival in disaster, and field medical care); (2) Team collaboration capacity building: standard forms (eg, registration, MRED, daily report, rapid HNA, referral, and summary) and SOP for I-EMT coordination are needed; (3) Personal capacity building: knowledges and skills in health emergency management (trauma and non-trauma), public health emergency management, risk assessment, and understanding in the incident command system (ICS) concept and international standards in humanitarian assistance; and (4) Collaboration capacity building: essential information package for I-EMT, SOP, and handbook, and reporting forms must be compatible with existing regional Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP) and the standard daily reporting methodology which is now known as the WHO Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Minimum Data Set (MDS).¹

Following are the issues for future consideration: (1) Including all AMS to participate in the training; (2) Lengthening the drill period and conducting the training annually; and (3) Training in both medical care and coordination for designated personnel in Ministry of Health or Ministry of Public Health (MOH/MOPH) to strengthen the DHM system. Feedback and comments from all participants and instructors were gathered and analyzed by the Project Team to be an input for the planning of the next drill and presented in the AMS representative meeting.

The ARCH Project team planned to organize the first RCD immediately after the start-up drill in 2016. A planning schedule and the team responsibilities (Table1), drill objectives and outlines (Table2), methodologies (Table3), and the conceptual framework (Figure1) were designed and implemented. Comprehensive literature review and an informative discussion between PWG, experts, and the advisory committee were organized to set up the drill to be most practical for I-EMTs. The objective of the first RCD was to examine the implementation of the MRED and HNA forms and a reporting procedure of I-EMTs in the disaster relief operations.

Table 1. Planning Schedule and Designated Team Responsibilities of the First RCD

Note: Number in parenthesis: serial number of the meeting.

Table 2. First RCD Objectives and Outlines

Table 3. The First RCD Methodologies

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of The First RCD.

Regional and international SOPs including SASOP, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) standard, and MOH/MOPH procedures were reviewed, discussed, and summarized as crucial material for drafting the ASEAN coordination SOP for I-EMTs in disaster relief operations. The coordination platform is based on the WHO EMTCC standards and in accordance with the SASOP and MOH/ MOPH procedures.¹

Literatures relevant to medical records and the HNA for I-EMT were reviewed. The ASEAN MRED and HNA forms were drafted by the ARCH Project team under the supervision of experts.

The scenario is based on a host country’s risk, previous disaster events, and simulated actual activities in disaster relief operations. Field medical activities (both table-top and field operation) were organized according to standard competencies of I-EMT in disaster relief operations. Table-top exercises were undertaken to prepare participants prior to field exercises both in medical care and coordination procedures. The coordination platform, information flow, and reporting were aligned with MOH/MOPH procedures and WHO EMTCC standards. I-EMT coordination was compulsory for the designated host country’s personnel in MOH or MOPH. They were trained on the coordination by experts and instructors to strengthen their competencies prior to attending the table-top and field exercises. The outcome-based AAR platform relevant to drill objectives and activities was implemented, as shown in Figure2 and Figure3.

Figure 2. Emergency Medical Team Coordination Activity in the 1st Regional Collaboration Drill.

Figure 3. Medical Care Activity in the 1st Regional Collaboration Drill.

Feedback received from different participants and experts were divided into the following four categories: (1) team capacity building: team management, workflow, standardized medicine, and equipment; (2) team collaboration capacity building: evaluation of the standardized forms (eg, registration, MRED, and HNA forms) and the knowledge of functions of other relevant agencies; (3) personal capacity building: basic and advanced knowledge and skills in health emergency management (trauma and non-trauma), ICS concept, and legal provision; and (4) collaboration capacity building: evaluation of drafted ASEAN SOP.

The first RCD in 2017, which was well-planned and organized, became a great success and became the standard for subsequent drill preparations. Information collected from all drills by the outcome-based AAR was a major input for the development of a standard curriculum on the DHM training course. Furthermore, the drilling activity encouraged and facilitated AMS I-EMT to achieve both regional and global standards. All planning processes, activities, and recommendations of the first RCD were documented and became the resource material for future drill preparation.

B. Second RCD (Viet Nam)

2. RCD Exercise Results were Fascinating and Very Encouraging

Ten I-EMTs from nine ASEAN countries and Japan were the participants in the second RCD. The Vietnamese side had two N-EMTs; established a Reception Departure Center (RDC) and three Public Health Emergency Operation Centers (PHEOC) in one region and two provinces. The drill included a day for table top exercise (TTX) and another day for field training exercise (FTX) at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Da Nang. TTX included the operation of the RDC, which supports the I-EMTs to complete procedures to enter and leave Viet Nam at the beginning and the end of their duties, familiarizing and practicing to fill out all the forms (15 forms according to standard ASEAN procedure guidelines) under detailed hypothetical scenarios (Figure4). FTX included administration of regional and provincial PHEOCs, triage, providing first aid, and referral practices by collaborating I-EMTs and N-EMTs and HNA practices in the affected and isolated areas, making reports in accordance with the WHO EMT MDS, and sending data to the control center (Figure5, Figure6, Figure7, Figure8).

Figure 4. Japanese Team at TTX (Indoor Exercise).

Figure 5. Hoa Xuan Stadium for FTX (Field Exercise).

Figure 6. Village Assessment Conducted by AMS - I-EMT.

Figure 7. Viet Nam N-EMT.

Figure 8. Japanese Team on Medical Care.

The general assessment shows that the drills were successful in achieving the goals and safety. Both I-EMTs and N-EMTs updated their knowledge, practiced their skills in providing first aid and referring the affected people, and coordinated well between I-EMTs and N-EMTs. Few shortcomings such as poor communication, complicated forms, no standards of first aid skills between I-EMT and N-EMT, insufficient language translators, and the role of EOCs in coordinating and analyzing data still exist, all of which needs to be improved.

The drill was successful with many experiences gained including planning for disaster response, deploying and operating health resources, EOC function, and reporting statistics for the disaster. The results of the drill formed the basic premise for organizing international drills on a larger scale and ensuring the readiness for future disaster response that Viet Nam is aiming to build.

C. Third RCD (Philippines)

The year 2018 ended with a bang as the Philippines hosted the third RCD under the ASEAN Regional Capacity on DHM. The drill (at that time) was applauded as the most sophisticated and most organized drill (in all aspects) by the ASEAN Community.

Over 300 local players and more than 100 participants, players, and observers from the AMS, Japan, and Taiwan participated in the activity (Figure9).

Figure 9. All the Players, Participants, Observers, Victim-Actors, and Facilitators during the Field Exercise at the Philippine Army Grandstand.

The strategies used by the Philippines in the conduct of the said drill, which was reflected in the RCD Guidebook developed under the ARCH Project, included: having a solid scenario based on the experience of the Philippines, forming of working committees, conducting a dry run, and developing various drill templates.

The RCD was a combination of a two-day tabletop exercise held on 3 and 5 December 2018 in Makati City, and a one-day field exercise on 4 December 2018 at the Philippine Army Grandstand (Figure10).

Figure 10. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco T. Duque III Giving Welcome Message during the Opening Program for the 3rd Regional Collaboration Drill at Dusit Thani Hotel.

The drill aimed to examine the current draft regional collaboration mechanism and tools on DHM which were developed through the ARCH Project. The exercise also aimed to further refine EMT operations at all levels in terms of command and control, coordination and collaboration, and communication.

The tabletop exercise focused on the arrival and registration of EMTs, including the demobilization of assistance. The said exercise included a mock set-up of the airport which highlighted the quarantine, immigration, customs, and humanitarian assistance processes manned by experienced personnel from the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Department of Foreign Affairs, and DOH – Operation Center (Figure11).

Figure 11. The EMT from Myanmar during the Tabletop Exercise Using the Mock Airport at Dusit Thani.

On the other hand, the field exercise involved two phases of patient care for trauma and public health cases. The exercise also emphasized the concept of EMTCC and camp management (Figure12).

Figure 12. The EMT from Malaysia during the Field Exercise (Patient Care for Trauma Cases) at the Philippine Army Grandstand.

The Philippine hosting of the drill is in line with the preparation of the country to respond to a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila. Hosting an international drill is an opportunity for many health emergency response teams all over the country to participate and learn from the other response teams of the AMS. Almost 200 players from all the 17 regions of the Philippines and other government and non-government organizations participated in this RCD. In the end, the drill benefited the country to enhance inter-agency collaboration and coordination both at the national and international response operation activities. Likewise, the RCD also contributed to the effort of the Philippines to organize the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team through the enhancement of the existing draft operational guides and SOPs based on the learnings from the drill.

For a country with several experiences of disaster, ranking nineth among the 180 countries in terms of disaster risk, the Philippines recognizes that coordination saves lives. ² And therefore, it is needed to improve the coordination between countries, among local responders, and that of civilian and military workers.

D. Fourth RCD (Indonesia)

Indonesia is one of 35 disaster high-risk countries and geographically located in Southeast Asia, the most disaster-prone area of the world. ² The commitment of Indonesia to global disaster risk reduction (DRR) is enhanced into the policy of disaster and health crisis management, as well as preparedness at national and sub-national levels. ³ Indonesia can be considered as a disaster laboratory. Therefore, Indonesia agreed to host the fourth RCD in 2019 in order to contribute to strengthening the regional coordination capacity on DHM through cooperation and sharing experiences, to improve national capacities in responding to disaster events in ASEAN, and to propose a composite team model as the best practice of Indonesia’s EMT management.

The impact of the fourth RCD exceeded expectations. First, the RCD represented a resemblant process of disaster management in ASEAN, including how to manage I-EMT, who will be deployed, and how to coordinate with AHA Centre and AMS via SASOP. ¹ Second, the RCD showed an integrated simulation between medical and management skills, not only the patient treatment skills of EMT, but also the management process on RDC, permission, and coordination in health emergency operation center (HEOC), how to make a daily report and coordinate with EMTCC, as well as teach EMTCC and HEOC to organize all operation, information, and data. Moreover, it was found that some items need to be improved such as the request and verification process of health care volunteers or EMTs from each country. Thus, the Section of Prevention, Mitigation, and Preparedness Health Crisis Center MOH Indonesia has adopted the DHM simulation of the RCD into their annual disaster simulation. They adopted the revised material and model of DHM simulation and added management simulation on health cluster activation (Figure13, Figure14, and Figure15).

Figure 13. Participants of 4th RCD.

Figure 14. Indoor Exercise of EMT Daily Meeting.

Figure 15. Mock Airport Simulation.

The achievements of Indonesia in this RCD were as outlined below: (1) A composite team model of EMTs, consisting of multiple medical and health professionals with a core team that is formed in emergency response situations based on needs, was able to practice on trial for future disaster response in Indonesia; (2) The results were appreciated by most of the participants as the overall activity was satisfying; and (3) Participants received valuable inputs from mentors.

Nevertheless, it was not easy for Indonesia to prepare for the RCD. Many coordination meetings and communication with many platforms were necessary because of the distance between Jakarta and Bali as the simulation location. It was not an easy task to ensure that the related agencies, national ministries, and departments, Bali Province, and Karangasem District were involved, and the collaboration with academia, researchers, and practitioners who supported all processes of RCD as the committee, participants, and observers was obtained.

A. Development of the Standard Curriculum on DHM

The standard curriculum of the DHM training course is one of the extraordinary outputs initiated by the ARCH Project. The main objective of this development was to set up an ASEAN standard of I-EMT and finally to achieve the WHO I-EMT standard and accreditation.^4,5

The ARCH Project team reviewed all materials relevant to the I-EMT standard, I-EMT training courses both in ASEAN and globe especially by WHO, the country survey reports in AMS, the AAR from RCDs, summaries from AMS representative meetings, and direct observation of the disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) training in Japan.

The curriculum was drafted by the ARCH Project team and experts in accordance with the learning pyramid theory (Figure16) to achieve objective-based learning and outcome-oriented activities.^{Reference Susman6}

Figure 16. Learning Pyramid Theory.

Note: Adopted from Susman K: How do we know they are learning?^{Reference Susman6}

A sub-working group (SWG), consisting of two representatives from each AMS, was established to support the development of the standard curriculum.

Objective-based modules were designed to achieve the necessary knowledge and skills in disaster medical relief operation and coordination. The outcome-oriented activities and materials such as interactive discussion and brainstorming workshops were applied to facilitate the learning and critical thinking experience of all participants. The tabletop exercise was held to formulate all knowledge and skills learned from previous sessions while the field training exercise was set up to test both personal and team performance in EMT operation during disaster medical assistance.

The pilot DHM training courses were implemented a couple of times for the Thai participants. Feedback and suggestions were used to modify the DHM training curriculum prior to presenting in the SWG meeting. Comments from the SWG and common agreement on training curriculum were input into the ASEAN standard curriculum of DHM training course. The implementation of the ASEAN standard DHM training course was the next step of the project (Figure17, Figure18).

Figure 17. Activity in Pilot DHM Training (Indoor Exercise).

Figure 18. Activity in Pilot DHM Training (Field Exercise).

B. ASEAN Academic Network

An in-country survey on DHM of all 10 ASEAN countries by the ARCH Project team in 2015 revealed four major challenges: ⁷ (1) Each country has a different situation: needs, priority, capacity, development plans, institutional arrangements, and human resources according to the country’s context and system; (2) There are needs for collaboration mechanism on DHM to exchange information both in peacetime and during the event; (3) DHM should be well-coordinated with other sectors, especially disaster management and emergency response; and (4) There are needs for capacity building in DHM (personal capacity, team capacity, team collaboration capacity, and collaboration capacity) for all AMS.

Therefore, capacity building in DHM for AMS is required and specified as the essential goal within the POA on DHM to establish the ASEAN Academic Network on DHM with mandates and functions as follows ⁸ :

1. 1. Promote and support educational and training activities by mobilizing resource persons or provision of curriculums and/or learning materials as requested by member states;

2. 2. Organize regional conferences on DHM every two years;

3. 3. Establish ASEAN Journal/E-Bulletin on DHM and publish the aforementioned publications twice a year; and

4. 4. Conduct joint research among the network of member institutes.

The purpose of this academic network is to coordinate, facilitate, and support all AMS in DHM academic activities. Members of the network consist of academic organizations that are interested in DHM and each member state assigns a national focal point to coordinate with domestic networks and ASEAN networks. Membership of the network is not limited to only the AMS, but also is open to other countries in order to expand opportunities of knowledge, skills, and experience exchanges among the AMS and non-AMS states.

The ASEAN Institute for DHM (AIDHM) is an organization that acts as the coordination center of this academic network supervised by Regional Coordination Committee on Disaster Health Management (RCCDHM) as its board committee. The academic network and AIDHM are crucial mechanisms of the RCCDHM to drive capacity development and academic activities related to DHM in ASEAN. The initiative of an ASEAN DHM training system along with the ASEAN coordination mechanism in DHM is an essential step for sustainable development of the ASEAN DHM to achieve the ultimate goal of “One ASEAN, One Response.”⁹

The ARCH Project developed the draft terms of reference for the ASEAN Academic Network and AIDHM and has submitted them to the ASEAN health sector for endorsement.