Belgium's B-FAST Emergency Medical Team type 2 (EMT2) field hospital was officially verified by the World Health Organization on Friday, 18 September 2026, following an independent evaluation that confirmed it meets international quality standards. The hospital now forms part of the WHO's global network of recognised emergency medical teams, enabling its rapid deployment wherever natural disasters, crises, or health emergencies place severe strain on local healthcare systems.
Under the terms of the verification, recipient countries are guaranteed that the field hospital can be fully operational within 24 to 48 hours of arrival. During a mission, the unit is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of 90 volunteers and experts — medical personnel and logistics specialists drawn from hospitals and private companies.
The facility is equipped to treat more than 100 patients per day through its outpatient department, while its operating theatre can handle up to 15 surgical procedures daily. The hospital also maintains its own pharmacy, maternity ward, trauma unit, paediatric unit, and radiological equipment, allowing it to cover a broad range of medical activities.
In the days preceding the certification, dozens of experts, partners, and volunteers took part in a large-scale exercise at the military site in Peutie, where the entire field hospital was assembled and tested. The drill formed an essential part of the WHO verification process and also served to prepare volunteers for future missions.
The Federal Public Service (FPS) Health led the hospital's development and the preparation for certification within the B-FAST framework, supported by the other B-FAST partners and the organisation's volunteer network. B-FAST — the Belgian First Aid Support Team — is the federal structure activated for humanitarian assistance abroad, and brings together the FPS Interior, FPS Policy and Support (BOSA), FPS Health, the Ministry of Defence, and the FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, with the Prime Minister's Cabinet also involved.
According to the press release, the WHO verification goes beyond a quality label: it positions Belgium to deliver rapid, coordinated medical assistance in international emergencies, reinforcing the country's role as a partner in international solidarity and crisis response.
This article is based on a verified primary source. The text was editorially reviewed and fact-checked prior to publication.
