Filenews 10 December 2025
The approval by the Council of Ministers of the bill on the National Ambulance Agency and the Provision of Ambulance Services, was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambidis, a framework that, as he said, comes with the aim of filling the legislative gap in the provision of pre-hospital care.
In his statements after the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Charalambides said that with the passage of the law, it will be ensured that citizens facing a sudden illness or injury will have immediate, properly coordinated and quality assistance, with the aim of reducing loss of life, preventing disabilities, reducing the cost of health care and improving mortality rates of the population.
He added that the new legislative framework safeguards the operation of the National Ambulance Agency, as a national critical infrastructure under the Ministry of Health.
"The Agency will be responsible for the transport of cases to the nearest and most appropriate Accident and Emergency Departments (TAEP), as well as for the provision of ambulance services to patients, in cases of emergency and/or urgent needs, health and other crises with mass loss of health. He will also be responsible for the operation of the Operational Coordination Call Center and the Poison Control Center," he explained.
He also said that the provision of scheduled patient transfers by registered ambulance service providers, as well as targeted emergency prehospital care services, is regulated, while transitional arrangements are included, so that, until the financial and administrative autonomy of the State Health Services Organization (OKYPY) or until December 31, 2026, emergency prehospital care will continue to be provided by the Organization.
"This is an important regulation that enhances the coordination, transparency and quality of emergency pre-hospital care services and creates an integrated, modern ambulance system for the benefit of all citizens," the Minister concluded.
CNA
