Medical Service

Milestone for future cooperation with NATO

Milestone for future cooperation with NATO

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With their signatures, the Directors of the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre / European Medical Command (MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command) and the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (MILMED COECentre of Excellence) on 18 March 2021 laid the foundation for the future cooperation of both organisations

A soldier sitting at a desk signs a sheet of paper

Brigadier, Medical Corps, Dr Stefan Kowitz signs the document on the future cooperation between both organisations that was prepared in consensus with MILMED COECentre of Excellence

Bundeswehr/Michael Laymann

The 5-page document outlines the major tasks of both organisations and their respective focus areas and responsibilities.

"Our common focus must be on facing the medical requirements of today efficiently and with all our expertise",

emphasized the Director MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command.

Practise complementary and coordinated cooperation here

The clear definition of the main tasks of both organisations enables to make effective use of resources. Core task of MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command is the medical cooperation with SHAPESupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and its subordinate commands at operational level. These activities are supplemented by the improvement of civil-military cooperation and Medical Service resilience.

MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command and NATO MILMED COECentre of Excellence will continue to harmonise their work programme to avoid duplication of effort. Both organisations have agreed on regular coordination meetings on a quarterly basis.

Important step towards capability development

The monitor shows a soldier signing a sheet of paper

During the video conference, the Director of MILMED COECentre of Excellence and the Director MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command sign the minutes on the future cooperation

Bundeswehr/Michael Laymann

With this coordination document, MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command has taken another fundamental step towards capability development of the future international medical hub for medical situational awareness.

For the last development phase, the team around the Director, Brigadier, Medical Corps, Dr Stefan Kowitz, is currently planning for exercise "Resilient Medical Interface 2021" in November. During this exercise, MMCCMultinational Medical Coordination Centre/EMCEuropean Medical Command intends to demonstrate its capabilities. Owing to the pandemic, however, the ceremony on the occasion of the solemn commissioning of the new multinational coordination element of NATO and EU will only take place in March next year.

by Rico Maderthoner 

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