EMT-PAT (Emergency Medical Team – Autonomous Province of Trento) is the project through which the Provincial Health Authority (Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari – APSS), in collaboration with the Autonomous Province of Trento – Department of Civil Protection, Forests and Wildlife, is developing a field medical module compliant with World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

The objective is to qualify an EMT Type 1 Mobile, rapidly deployable, self-sufficient and fully interoperable at national and European level, with the capability to operate in provincial, national and international emergency scenarios.

The project is supported by the European Union under the UCPM – European Civil Protection Pool Adaptation Grants programme (EU co-financing at 75%). It enables the upgrade of structures, equipment, logistics and staff training, ensuring a modern medical capability fully integrated into European emergency response mechanisms.

Project objectives

EMT-PAT aims to provide the Autonomous Province of Trento with a field medical capability that is:

• rapidly deployable, with operational readiness within a few hours through lightweight and modular assets;
• self-sufficient for up to 14 days, with dedicated systems for power supply, WASH, accommodation, cold chain and medical logistics;
• clinically comprehensive, capable of delivering emergency medical care, stabilization, primary care, and assistance for paediatric, adult and pregnant patients;
• interoperable, through the adoption of WHO standards (EMT Blue Book) and Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) procedures;
• multidisciplinary, with additional expertise for mountain, aquatic and urban environments, in line with the territorial characteristics of Trentino.

Team composition

The future EMT-PAT will consist of APSS healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, health technicians), logistics and technical personnel from the Department of Civil Protection, Forests and Wildlife, as well as contributions from other provincial partner entities within the system. Selected personnel take part in a structured programme of training, exercises and operational qualification, in accordance with WHO and UCPM standards for deployable teams within the European Civil Protection Pool.

Planned activities

The project includes targeted actions across four main areas.

1. Strengthening of structure and logistics

• introduction of new lightweight and modular tents suitable for rapid deployment;
• advanced systems for energy self-sufficiency (low-consumption generators, solar panels, LED lighting, portable climate control);
• renewal of WASH equipment, mobile warehouses and containers suitable for air transport.

2. Upgrade of medical equipment

• miniaturised emergency and critical care devices (monitors, ventilators, medical devices, ultrasound systems);
• portable systems for cold chain management, point-of-care diagnostics and sterilisation;
• specific equipment for mass-casualty management and advanced triage.

3. Standardisation and training

• training courses on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, staff safety, risk management and international cooperation;
• training on the transport of dangerous goods (ICAO);
• implementation of a structured training system for medical and logistical operational scenarios.

4. Communication and visibility

• development of a dedicated section on the APSS website including documents, information materials, project milestones and multimedia content;
• application of European visibility requirements;
• dissemination activities through press releases, newsletters, international workshops and public events.

These actions fully address the communication and visibility requirements set out in the UCPM call.

European added value

EMT-PAT will contribute to strengthening European medical response capacity by providing:

• a rapidly deployable asset in areas where the UCPM has identified gaps and needs for mobile medical teams;
• a compact, fast and specialised medical capability suitable also for non-conventional operational contexts;
• enhanced interoperability between healthcare systems and civil protection authorities at EU and WHO level.

The commitment of the Autonomous Province of Trento within the European Pool reinforces international cooperation and ensures the availability of the capability for UCPM missions for at least five years, as required by the grant agreement.

Duration and funding

• Duration: 1 November 2025 – 31 October 2027 (24 months).
• Total project cost: €629,546.81
• EU co-financing (75%): €168,894.96 allocated to APSS out of a total eligible budget of €225,193.81.