Is registration of foreign medical teams needed for disaster response? Findings from the response to Typhoon Haiyan

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of the new Global Health Cluster (GHC) registration form for Foreign Medical Teams (FMT) during the response to Typhoon Haiyan.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted on the deployment of FMT to the Typhoon Haiyan affected areas in the Philippines from 8 November 2013 to 30 June 2014. We analyzed information provided on the FMT registration form, from weekly monitoring forms and exit reports.

Results: 150 FMT were deployed in response to Haiyan. More than half were registered at the national level including all known Type 2 and Type 3 FMT.  Two thirds of those registered provided the composition of their teams, submitted weekly and/or exit reports.  From the registered FMT, Type 2 had the shortest period from their arrival in country to being operational.

Conclusions: In the response to Typhoon Haiyan registration of FMT proved valuable both for the affected country and the teams themselves. To ensure a well-coordinated international humanitarian response in sudden onset disasters and outbreaks in the future, we recommend the development of a FMT Regional Registration Platform. This could greatly improve coordination and quality of the response.