Minister: Ambulance reform will improve quality of emergency medical care
Social Affairs Minister Karmen Joller (Reform) defended Estonia's ambulance reform plans from critics, saying planned changes will improve response times and quality of care.
The proposed changes, including to crew size and locations, have drawn criticism from both experts and service providers, but Joller said the government is taking those concerns into account and will continue working with emergency care specialists.
"Of course we'll listen and take all of these concerns into account," she said at Thursday's government press conference.
The minister added that the proposals for the reform were developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF) and the Health Board based on previously agreed development goals.
She noted that Estonia's last major emergency medical services reform took place in 2014, and in the time since, the country's population distribution and emergency care needs have changed. Some ambulance crews may therefore be relocated closer to where demand is highest.
"Ambulance stations will be located where they are closer to people, meaning calls should reach patients faster," Joller said, noting that any changes to crew composition would improve, not reduce quality of care.
She added that the next meeting on the matter is scheduled for Friday, and that more details will be presented by emergency medical services representatives and experts in the coming months.
Health Board: Three-member crews won't disappear immediately
After the planned reform was initially announced last month, the Health Board later clarified that three-person crews will still remain in significant numbers as the new nationwide network model is implemented in 2028, but a gradual transition will begin toward predominantly two-member crews and fewer overnight crews on duty.
Health Board deputy director general Taavet Reimers said the current plan calls for 63 three-member and 43 two-member daytime crews and 63 three-member and 30 two-member overnight crews.
"This means that in the initial 2028 model, all three-member crews will remain in operation at night, with the nighttime reduction affecting only two-member crews," he added.
The Union of Estonian Medical Emergency (EKL) has warned that reducing ambulance crews from three members to two could lead to longer on-scene times, heavier workloads and added challenges with things like lifting patients.
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Editor: Aleksander Krjukov, Aili Vahtla
