Health Ministry Plans Cooperation in Emergency Medical Services with Poland
dnes 16:44
Bratislava, 20 October (TASR) - The Slovak Health Ministry plans to hold talks with Poland on cooperation in the field of emergency medical services (EMS) with a focus on border regions and on mountain rescue services in particular, TASR reported on Monday based on a proposal submitted by the ministry for interdepartmental review.
"The time needed to provide professional pre-hospital emergency medical care in border areas is one of the main reasons for establishing closer cooperation between the EMS systems of neighbouring states," stated the ministry.
A framework agreement should be signed because the existing legal framework with Poland doesn't make it possible to respond to the needs of people living in border areas.
"The absence of a comprehensive international legal document is particularly evident during incidents involving mass casualties or in cases requiring the urgent transport of patients in a critical condition," explained the ministry.
A swift and coordinated response is also crucial given the high numbers of tourists on both sides of the border, as well as the difficult terrain of the High Tatra mountain range and other mountain regions.
"Cross-border cooperation in mountain areas therefore greatly contributes to increasing health security and protecting the lives and health of both locals and visitors," added the ministry.
During an informal meeting with Polish representatives, the ministry received a positive response to the proposal, which it plans to submit to the government for discussion in October.
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