1. Brief overview of the contribution by the World Health Organisation in the upgrading of the Emeregency Medical Services Europe Presented by Dr. Raed Arafat WHO-EURO consultant The European Regional Office of the World Health Organisation

2. The highest number of country compared to other regional WHO offices with the greatest variety of socio, econoimic and cultural settings The European Regional Office of the World Health Organization assists 53 Member States.

3. Obj num ObjectiveMAJOR ACHIEVEMENTCountries of implementation 1Strengthened EMS through development of appropriate strategies and tools STANDARDISED SURVEY FOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT ALB – MKD (TJK in 2007) 2Strengthening the core functions of the Health Systems in countries upon request of Govt NATIONAL REFORM on EMS ALB in progress (MKD in 2007) 3Integrating the EMS Disaster Medicine programmes, with functional and operational links. - PRACTICAL TOOL ON HOSPITAL CRISIS PREPAREDNESS PLAN - Requested WORK-SHOP MKD-SVK-GEO ARM-CZH-POL –BUL - AUS 4Update the situation analysis of the EMS in EU Member States EMS repository – situation analysis in MS All 27 EU MSs funded by DG.SANCO

4. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ASSESSMENT IN EU COUNTRIES Project Implemented by: Emergency Medical Services Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Barcelona office. Commissioned by: European Commission- DG Sanco (Health & Consumer Protection Directorate). Duration: March 2007 – February 2008

5. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT To improve the understanding of emergency medical services structures and organizational arrangements and their linkages with national crisis management structures. To learn differences between the European EMS, to identify gaps and potential ways to improve standardization and cross border inter-operability of systems. Research done at EU level: all EU member states are invited to actively participate. TARGETS: EU MINISTRIES OF HEALTH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, PATIENTS ACCESSING EMS

6. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 1.To develop a standardized template for collection of general information and data on EMS. 2.To collect data on EMS in European Union member states, according to approved template. 3.To map existing institutional, educational and human resources capacity around EU member states.

7. WORK DONE UNTIL NOW… Effort in the drafting of the STANDARDIZED TEMPLATE AS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE A draft questionnaire was designed by EMS experts This draft questionnaire will be presented at a workshop on in Bratislava, Slovakia on 14-15 June. National Counterparts appointed by the Ministry of Health of each EU member states will finally approve, compile and validate the final version of the questionnaire. Questionnaire composed of 5 chapters: LEGISLATION & FINANCING, OUT-OF-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE, IN- HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE, EDUCATION, NATIONAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

8. Chapter 2, Question 5 Glossary: Securiy emergencies Rescue emergencies Definition: Define national coverage Comments (max. 1000 characters): YESNO Access to the emergency system 5.1 Is there, in your country, a telephone number for medical emergencies with national coverage? If yes, which is the number? 5.2 The dispatch center behind this telephone number can cover: Only medical emergencies All emergencies: medical and non medical such as security or rescue

9. Chapter 2, Question 6 Glossary:Definition: Comments (max. 1000 characters): 6. Dialing 112 in your country, the telephone call is diverted to: Access to the emergency system Police Medical emergencies All emergencies Others (plase specify) No diversion at all

10. Chapter 2, Question 7 Glossary:Definition: Calling an emergency number free of charge means calling without the need of inserting coins, if public phones, or without the need of having credit in your private mobile phone. Calling an emergency number unconditioned to external factors means that you do not need to dial any national or regional code before the emergency number. Comments (max. 1000 characters): Access to the emergency system 7.1 Is calling 112 or other emergencies numbers free of charge? YESNO 7.2 Is calling 112 or other emergencies numbers unconditioned? NOYES 7.3 Can the emergency numbers handle calls in english language? NOYES 7.4 Can the emergency numbers handle calls in french language? YESNO

11. UP-COMING ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE PROJECT Once standardized template is approved (June 14-15), effort will be diverted to its compilation by each National Counterpart. Methodology used Development of a new web based electronic tool which will facilitate communication among countries under the co- ordination of WHO WHO will perform brief country visits in most countries with difficulties in compiling the data collection.

12. PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE A comprehensive analysis of EMS in EU member states Recommendations and possibility of building new networks withing the EMS systems. Follow-up: European Commission will fund future project: Framework for an Emergency Medical Services inter-country collaboration in preparedness and management of crisis in EU and bordering countries. Years 2008-09 Possibility for assessment in EU bordering and accession countries

13. WHO Regional Office for Europe Contact Person: Dr. Enrico Davoli Programme Manager Emergency Medical Services eda@es.euro.who.inteda@es.euro.who.int Programme of Emergency Medical Services Division of Country Health Systems WHO office – BARCELONA - Spain