Lessons from the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps' Experience in the Organization of International Medical Disaster Relief Forces

Local and state health-care systems often enter a state of ‘In-sufficiency‘’ during disasters and require the assistance of IMDRF. International medical disaster relief often is ineffective because of inadequate communication and exchange of information between the IMDRF coordinator and local health-care authorities before and after the arrival of such relief. It is hoped that the “lessons” suggested above which are based on the Israeli Medical Corps' two decades of experience in assembling and implementing IMDRF in various types of disasters will help make future IMDRF more effective.