Field hospitals have been used successfully in complex disasters (civil conflicts and wars), but experience in the aftermath of disasters caused by natural hazards in developing countries has shown these extremely expensive solutions to be not satisfactorily cost-effective.

A “check consultant” is an independent consultant who, on behalf of a client, ensures that norms and building standards are in place. Check consultants can be contracted to oversee the construction of any building, but their thorough knowledge of building codes and natural hazard mitigation measures are particularly important to ensuring the disaster safety of critical facilities such as hospitals.