Andriy Vasko, head of the Lviv Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine, addressed questions about implementing paid ambulance calls and why ambulances do not always respond to high-temperature cases.
Free Emergency Medical Services: Who Qualifies?
According to Ukrainian law, emergency medical services (EMS) are provided free of charge to all citizens. This is covered by state funding.
Vasko explained that EMS is meant for life-saving situations. All calls to the “103” hotline are categorized into four groups: critical, urgent, non-urgent, and non-essential. Response times depend on the severity, with critical cases requiring arrival within 10 minutes and urgent cases within 20 minutes.
Critical vs. Urgent Cases
Critical cases include cardiac or respiratory arrest, severe accidents, or life-threatening allergic reactions.
Urgent cases, such as strokes or heart attacks with stable vitals, require prompt attention but are not as immediately life-threatening. Non-urgent situations, like fever or mild discomfort, are redirected to family doctors or handled through phone consultations.
Will Paid Ambulance Calls Be Introduced?
The Lviv EMS Center lacks the resources to handle paid services while maintaining its focus on critical and urgent cases. For those seeking private ambulance services, both public and private providers are available.
The center prioritizes inter-hospital transfers of injured civilians and military personnel, as well as international patient transportation to the EU.
Frequency of Unnecessary Calls
Of the approximately 2,000 daily calls, only 30% require an ambulance, and half of those result in hospitalizations. Vasko emphasized that EMS is not a substitute for non-urgent consultations or a transport service.
EMS Worker Salaries
The center offers competitive wages:
- Medical technicians earn $430–510;
- Paramedics: $510–670;
- Doctors: $670+.
While salaries are relatively high within the healthcare system, Vasko acknowledged the need for further improvements to retain staff, especially during wartime.