MRCP – Medicine, Refugees, and Civil Protection Conference 2025

Experts from Poland, Japan, Norway, and Ukraine among others, along with representatives from European Union institutions and international humanitarian organizations, will gather in Rzeszów to develop optimal strategies for crisis response. The discussion will take place on April 10-11, 2025, during the “Medicine, Refugees and Civil Protection Conference 2025” organized by the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM).

AGENDA (click to zoom in):

International Meeting of Experts in Rzeszów

The Rzeszów conference aims to enhance the speed and effectiveness of institutional responses to future crises. The event will bring together experts from leading public institutions across four continents and international organizations, including the European Commission, UN agencies, and Emergency Medical Teams (EMT).

“We have invited individuals and institutions that have been involved in supporting and coordinating humanitarian and rescue operations during the largest and most significant crisis worldwide, including those caused by human actions like wars and natural disasters such as earthquakes. We aim to expand civil protection experts’ knowledge on emergency medicine and EMT activities, as well as managing mass population movements including refugees,” said Dr. Wojtek Wilk, CEO – Polish Center for International Aid and the conference’s initiator.

Participants will learn how to organize aid during mass refugee crises based on Polish experiences with establishing the Transit Centre for refugees at East Warsaw Station and the MEDEVAC HUB Jasionka. Experts will share insights into how operational rooms function in the Gaza Strip and how medical aid operates on the front lines in Ukraine. Conference attendees will exchange experiences on healthcare systems during crises, wars, and catastrophes.

“Experts from Japan will present conclusions drawn from the 2011 Fukushima disaster and its impact on crisis management,” explains Dr. Wojtek Wilk.

Attendees will hear about rescue operations following sudden floods, such as the recent one in Valencia, as well as emerging hybrid threats. 

The conference will be held in a strategic location near Rzeszów Airport, which plays a crucial role in the medical evacuation of patients from Ukraine. The meeting will be closed to the public.

Context and Purpose

The war in Ukraine and the associated refugee crisis have presented an unprecedented test for administrations, international organizations, and NGOs. This conflict highlights the importance of effective crisis management. The Rzeszów conference will provide a platform for analyzing challenges and building cooperation in the areas of population protection, emergency medicine, and humanitarian aid. Key discussion points will include lessons from mass population movements and threats to critical infrastructure, including medical facilities.

International Experts and Key Topics

The event is organized by the Polish Center for International Aid, one of Poland’s largest humanitarian organizations, which collaborates with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations, and the European Union. PCPM leads Poland’s only WHO-accredited Emergency Medical Team and has been operating the MEDEVAC HUB in Jasionka since 2022, near the Polish-Ukrainian border.

The conference is held under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, and the Minister of Health.