CYPRUS ACQUIRES A NATIONAL AMBULANCE AGENCY - PARLIAMENT PASSED A LAW - IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR 'COLD' AND NON-EMERGENCY CASES - Filenews 2/4 by Marilena Panayi
The Parliament passed a law establishing the National Ambulance Agency after the parties, despite their initial objections and remarks at the level of the parliamentary Health Committee on the fact that the current ambulance service should either evolve into an independent authority, or be integrated into a single crisis management body, finally gave the green light to the Government's bill.
According to the law, it will be responsible for the planning, organization, coordination and supervision of all relevant services since it will evaluate and certify the suitability and safety of all ambulances serving patients. At the same time, it will be responsible for the operation of an Accident and Emergency Management Center for coordination in emergency situations. In addition to the general coordination, planning, organization and supervision of ambulance services, it will also be responsible for the maintenance of three different registers: Register of Ambulance Service Providers, Register of Ambulances and Register of Rescuers.
Registration in the registers is a prerequisite for the legal provision of services, while conditions for education, professional competence and compliance with approved protocols are set. The bill also gives the competent authority control and inspection powers, as well as the possibility of imposing sanctions in cases of violations.
The law also provides for the operation of an Operational Call Coordination Center, through which calls will be managed and ambulances dispatched.
Also, the Agency will ensure the operation of an Accident and Emergency Management Center, with the aim of operational coordination of emergency pre-hospital care in cases of mass accidents and emergencies.
Finally, the establishment of an Advisory Committee for Emergency Prehospital Health Care is foreseen, with a purely advisory role.
An amendment tabled by AKEL was rejected by the majority of the Parliament.
With the adoption of the law, the way is opened for the involvement of the private sector in the transport of non-emergencies, after of course the private entities are evaluated on the basis of criteria and receive the necessary permits.
