35th COMEDS Plenary Meeting in Budapest, Hungary

The Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO (COMEDS) held its 35th plenary meeting, organized by the Military Medical Center of the Hungarian Defense Forces in close cooperation with the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine, in Budapest, the capitol of Hungary.

The plenary meeting took place in Intercontinental Hotel Budapest right in the heart of the city close to the Danube river at the Széchenyi chain bridge.

Besides the Surgeons General of NATO member countries and the medical delegates of the NATO Command Structure, representatives of the European Union, the Mediterranean Dialogue and Partnership for Peace countries, and also Australia and Singapore have participated in this event.

The COMEDS, as the strategic level decision-maker of medical community and single mandated advisory and coordinating body of the Military Committee of NATO on all medical issues, received and discussed updates on current operations, changes and progress of the allied commands, works and achievements done by the working groups and expert panels. Certainly, many relevant questions have been raised and discussed thoroughly from different aspects resulting in decisions based on recommendations and approved by the participants.
As always, continuous sustenance of improvement of health care, medical trainings, equipments and providing appropriate medical capacities were in focus of negotiations.
In addition, as special topics there were interesting and profound presentations given about today’s military surgeons’ challenges and the complexity of their tasks (NLD), about the simulations used in first responders trainings (ITA) and about epidemiological surveillance system (FRA).
Also to be noted that coordination of issues of common interest with the United Nations and the European Union continued during the conference in the direction of sharing experiences and mitigating unnecessary duplications.

Chairman of the COMEDS, BGen Rob van der Meer will report about the overall work of the plenary to the Military Committee.

“Green day”

As part of the host nation day activities, one day of the “Vigorous Warrior 2011” multinational military medical exercise, held near the city of Várpalota, was dedicated to the participants of the 35th COMEDS plenary meeting. Contributing multinational medical units demonstrated the process of medical support from the first responder on scene through the evacuation till the treatment in higher level Medical Treatment Facilities using multinational capabilities and following the requirements and timelines outlined in pertinent NATO guidelines, doctrines and standardization agreements (STANAGs).

The exercise once more highlighted the importance to sustain well established, cost effective professional activities among allies and with like-minded partners in search for multinational solutions in operational health and medical support, alongside with utilizing the available resources more effectively and efficiently.
 

The units of participating nations (CZE, DEU, FRA, ITA, HUN, NLD) agreed that such an exercise can provide a unique opportunity to practice new procedures, structures and techniques and to measure their advantages and disadvantages. More over it is also an occasion to collect and provide for the decision makers lessons identified from different clinical field specialties.

The framework of scientific sessions and carefully selected supportive after-session activities provided unique, win-win opportunity for exchanging tactical, operational and strategic level non-classified medical information between allies and partners while exploring, for example, the beauty of Budapest on a cruise ship in the night.

“Following the establishment of the NATO Center of Excellence for Military Medicine, I believe that honouring Hungary as organizer and as the place for the 35th plenary by the COMEDS an other great appreciation towards the Hungarian Medical Corps and I am proud of my staff managing it at high level.” as the Surgeon General of the Hungarian Defence Forces, BGen Dr. András Németh said.

A separately organized cultural program was offered for spouses of the COMEDS delegates, including visit of the Parliament, Mathias church, Hero Square in Budapest, or the porcelain manufactory of Herend and the bishop palace at Veszprém.

The HUN Chief of Defence, General Tibor Benkő expressed his gratitude during the closing gala dinner for the support received from NATO and partner nations on the conference.

The COMEDS also accepted with pleasure the partner nation offer to host the next year spring plenary meeting in Israel.