Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

In September 2022, AMDA’s Prof. Takushi Sato returned to Mongolia to give long-awaited lectures and guidance on emergency medicine to local doctors. The workshop was held on the diagnosis and treatment methods of external injuries.

For the first time in two years, AMDA organized a training program for staff members of Ulaanbaatar Emergency Service (known as 103), an emergency medical service unit directly operated by the Mongolian health ministry.

Starting in September 2012, it had been a yearly occurrence for AMDA to hold hands-on workshops for those involved in emergency medicine in the Mongolian capital. Until it was temporarily suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200 people took part in the training. The program was headed by Prof. Sato himself, an AMDA board member who is also a certified emergency medicine specialist and instructor of JATEC (Japan Advanced Trauma Evaluation and Care).

Ambulances in Mongolia are much like the so-called “doctor cars” (emergency medical vehicles) in Japan. As these vehicles make it possible for emergency doctors to provide diagnoses and treatment on board, a high level of skill and knowledge is always required for those who ride in them. 

This time, the training focused on how to use portable ultrasound efficiently in diagnosing internal ailments and external wounds, in which precision and flexibility are required in different settings. The workshop included the practical guidance on manual intraosseous cannulation and other techniques, all of which contributed to the improvement of the clinical abilities of 26 participants.

Among those who took the course were also doctors from other medical facilities in Ulaanbaatar. The workshop was especially meaningful amidst a plan to equip ambulances with ultrasound in the near future. After the program was over, Prof. Sato and the head of 103 discussed the matters concerning the introduction of portable ultrasound in depth. 

Six months later, AMDA was informed of 103’s decision to install the device on five of its ambulances, which eventually triggered a great advancement in Mongolia’s emergency medicine.

Prof. Sato gave the following comment:

“Although a lot of things seemed to be new to those young Mongolian doctors, I could see that they were full of enthusiasm. I was moved by their integrity in pursuing skills and knowledge, as they were literally enjoying every moment of the workshop. They are passionate about honing their craft, and are deeply aware of their responsibilities. I am convinced that a bright future awaits them.”