The time from first aid at the scene of a disaster to patient transportation and hospitalisation is crucial to saving the lives of the injured and wounded in emergencies. Japan’s disaster medicine has effective medical protocols and standards for emergency services to respond to emergencies. In particular, a system of operational coordination and interaction between rescuers and paramedics has been established to provide first aid and stabilise victims before they are transported to an ambulance or hospital.

During a week-long visit to Tokyo, a delegation from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine learned in detail about the planning and coordination of Japan’s medical response teams.

The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and the work of paramedics and doctors during earthquakes and floods have influenced the modernisation of the Japanese medical system, and this experience is important for Ukraine, especially in the face of the challenges of war. The terrorist attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the constant shelling of residential buildings and civilians, and the threat of a nuclear accident require a rapid transformation of Ukraine’s disaster medicine. International partnerships in this area will allow for faster development of disaster medicine in line with international standards.

“The concept of the ‘golden hour’ in the context of disaster medicine is crucial. Immediate on-site medical care can save lives, stabilise victims and reduce the risk of critical complications and disability. In the summer, the Government backed a Ministry of Health resolution that divides disaster medicine teams into three types, allowing medical personnel to be deployed immediately at the scene of a disaster. For example, if a victim has not been completely freed from the rubble of a building, paramedics can provide first aid. That is why the Ministry of Health is expanding its cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the field of disaster medicine in order to share experience and develop a highly effective system of emergency medical response aimed at minimising mortality and saving as many lives as possible,” said Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin during his working visit to Japan.

The Ukrainian delegation also visited a centre for disaster medicine, a coordination centre, hospitals and simulation training for emergency teams practicing response to simulated floods and a subway emergency. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Ihor Kuzin, held a series of meetings with government officials and the management of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Since March, under two joint projects between the Ministry of Health and JICA, nine magnetic resonance imaging scanners have been purchased for medical institutions in Ukraine, 20 vehicles have been delivered to primary healthcare facilities in Kharkiv region, and special neurosurgical microscopes are planned to be delivered to hospitals.

The physical and psychological rehabilitation of war-affected people remains a priority area for further cooperation. These issues have been discussed at the level of the Presidents of both countries. Expert consultations are underway to finalise projects that will ensure access to quality rehabilitation for all those who need it.