The reform of the ambulance service has been under consideration for more than a year. Since then, three options have been considered to solve the problem. The Cyprus Patients Association is also helping to evaluate options.
Last spring, President Nikos Christodoulides was tasked with solving the problem of emergency medical services. Private and public ambulances do not fit well into the state GeSI system and serve citizens ineffectively. At the moment, the ambulance is under the jurisdiction of OKIPI.
Option oneCreation of the Sub-Ministry of Emergency Services following the example of other countries (similar to the Ministry of Emergency Situations). The department could combine ambulance, fire service, civil defense and others. This development will help coordinate the work of these services in emergency situations and will save time and money spent on resolving crises.
The new sub-ministry must be approved by the Ministry of Finance and the three ministries currently managing these services.
Option twoThe creation of an independent ambulance service will help vehicle operators enter the GeSI, and private companies will be able to join the scheme. Currently, ambulance workers receive their salaries from the Ministry of Health, and not from the health insurance system.
Ambulances with this option could serve both public and private clinics and receive income for the services provided.
Option threeAmbulance work as a department under the Ministry of Health. This option was immediately rejected by the ambulance staff and the Patients Association.
Every year, ambulances serve 70,000 patients. Work is often poorly coordinated. Private ambulance operators may be idle while public services cannot handle all calls.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health took up the bill again. Now there is a discussion with all interested parties and a decision on the fate of the service.
The text was prepared based on materials from “Philelefteros”
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