To respond swiftly and effectively to disasters and disease outbreaks, Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) must be fully equipped, well-trained, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. To bolster this capacity in Mongolia, WHO has provided a comprehensive EMT cache valued at over US$ 366 000 as part of its continued support to strengthen the country’s health security.
Tailored to Mongolia’s climate and health system, the cache contains 111 essential items, including modular shelters, power sources, water purification systems, WASH kits, clinical tools, communications equipment, and personnel gear, designed to support up to 30 EMT staff in the field without relying on local resources.
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Mongolia’s health sector led, for the first time, a large-scale simulation exercise (SimEx) involving over 190 multisectoral participants on 8 May 2025 using WHO-provided EMT cache. The event took place at National Public Health Emergency Warehouse under the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) compound in Ulaanbaatar and aimed to strengthen coordination, operational readiness, and field response capacity, contributing to the country’s overall health security.
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Participants included representatives from key national and provincial emergency response agencies, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), National Centre for Communicable Diseases, National Emergency Management Agency, the Mongolia Red Cross Society, NCZD, WHO, and all 21 provincial and the Ulaanbaatar City Health Departments. Emergency teams from the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center, First and Second State Central Hospitals, and the National Blood Center also took an active part.
The SimEx simulated a 7.2 magnitude earthquake near the Emeelt fault, west of Ulaanbaatar. The scenario envisioned widespread destruction, including structural collapses, fires, chemical leaks, infrastructure failures, and a zoonotic disease outbreak resulting from a damaged laboratory. This complex scenario required a multifaceted response, which over 50 participants addressed through team-based operational drills. These covered Incident Management Team planning and coordination, search and rescue, mass casualty triage, radiological and chemical hazard response, and outbreak containment. Teams also practiced trauma care, hemorrhage management, and prehospital patient transport under field conditions.
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The event opened with a ceremony and formal handover of the EMT cache, led by the Minister of Health Dr. Togtmol Munkhsaikhan and WHO Representative Dr. Socorro Escalante. Both highlighted Mongolia’s growing self-sufficiency in emergency health response and emphasized the importance of practical exercises in building institutional capacity.
During the simulation, a debriefing session chaired by MoH gathered feedback and recommendations. Discussions focused on the realism of the scenario, effectiveness of coordination mechanisms, communication flows, decision-making processes, and overall operational readiness. Participants also identified areas for improvement to enhance readiness for future public health emergencies.
This exercise, supported by the Pandemic Fund and aligned with recommendations from the 2023 Joint External Evaluation, is a critical investment in further strengthening Mongolia’s health security. It operationalizes the country’s commitments under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and strengthens multisectoral coordination in public health emergencies.
The SimEx effectively demonstrated how coordinated teams and field hospitals can operate under emergency conditions to deliver lifesaving care. While opportunities remain to enhance coordination, clarify leadership roles, and better integrate disaster response plans, the exercise offered critical insights and reinforced the value of regular, structured training.
The success of the simulation reflects Mongolia’s growing national capacity to rapidly deploy and sustain EMTs during disasters. WHO reaffirmed its ongoing support through technical guidance, development of standard operating procedures, and continued training for EMT personnel and emergency responders. Future exercises will build on this momentum, with plans to scale simulations to regional levels and increase cross-border coordination.