KÜLFÖLDI BETEGSZÁLLÍTÁS

HUNGARIAN NATIONAL
AMBULANCE AND
EMERGENCY SERVICE

INTERNATIONAL
ALARMCENTER

BUDAPEST
Markó u. 22.
H-1055

Tel: (361) 350 0388
Tel/Fax: (361) 350 68 30

In Hungary, the lack of specialist emergency medicine departments in hospitals has resulted in the evolution of a highly skilled and well equipped ambulance service, which seeks to provide emergency medical care at the site of the accident.

The Hungarian National Ambulance and Emergency Service (HNAES) was established in 1948 and since then it is responsible for rescue and transportation all over the country. The ground rescue has been completed by air ambulance facilities. For the time being 203 ambulance stations have been set up. 19 regional dispatch centers as well as the central dispatch center in Budapest are receiving the calls through the unified call number 104.

Ambulances are in constant contact with the dispatch centers by a radio communication system.

There are three levels of ambulance, the basic unit, the emergency unit and the mobile intensive care unit.

• The basic units are staffed by an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a car driver. The cars are equipped with the most important devices for Basic Life Support (bandages, splints, vacuum mattrasse, rigid collar (Stifneck), oxygen cylinder, ventilatory bag, suctioning device, oropharyngeal tubes, means of IV access, medications for oral use and inhalation). Several cars are equipped with AED.

EMT-s are trained in a 2 years course in BLS interventions, but in some occasions they also may use medications orally and by inhalation (Nitroglycerine, Nifedipine, Terbutaline) and can secure IV access. All these interventions depend on passing a special examination after qualification. Many basic units are equipped with Nitralgin (Entonox) for pain relief in the field.

Car drivers are also given in-service training in BLS interventions.

• The more advanced cars are Advanced Life Support (ALS) units (Emergency Cars) staffed by a paramedic, an EMT and a car driver. The cars have the equipment for ALS including ECG device, defibrillator, means of intubation facility, pulseoxymeter, IV fluid therapy, gastric lavage, perfusor, baby set, scoop stretcher and a broad range of drugs.

Paramedic training comprises 4 years in-service as well as in hospitals. Paramedics gain experience in ALS interventions.

• The most advanced ambulances are the Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs). These are staffed by emergency physicians beyond EMT-s and car drivers. These cars are equipped with all the important devices and medications for prehospital emergency medical care including ventilator and endocavital pacemaker facility. Emergency physicians are trained in most advanced in field interventions, including cardioversion, ventilation, anaesthesia,etc.

All members of the staff of all level have to take part yearly at retraining courses.

The helicopter rescue is restricted to priority rescue in the country. There are six regions altogether (district of Budapest, Balaton, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Miskolc) having an air ambulance rescue system. In case of need they also provide interhospital transports. Ambulance flights are restricted to daytime.

For big distance transportation (repatriation) there is also an ambulance plane facility available. Both air ambulances are equipped with those devices of a MICU, but also an additional Propaq monitoring system is available on the board.

The L 410 UVPE air ambulance is a turbopropeller plane. For the limitation in the speed as well as the on board conditions we arrange continental flights of about 1000-1500 Kilometers. The advantage of this type of air ambulance is however the broader landing facility first of all in the countries of Eastern Europe. On the board there is a stretcher and seats for 4 persons beyond those of flight crew. Occasionally also a second stretcher facility is available with four seats, as well as altogether 5 stretchers (with seats only for the staff).

Since 1992 an international alarmcenter has been working in our system that was established with the aims as follows:

1. Arrangements of international transportations due to the requirements of insurance companies, foreign alarmcenters or the patient himself.
2. Mediation of medical reports for physicians of insurance companies as well as the medical personnel of foreign alarmcenters in case of communication difficulties with Hungarian hospitals.
3. Medical assistance for everybody calling our alarmcenter.

For fulfilling all these requirements our service possesses

• an alarmcenter working in round o’clock shift with emergency physicians speaking English and/or German
• a constant radiocommunication facility between the alarmcenter and the regional dispatch centers in the country
• an Emergency Medical Services System covering the country with the facility of the required level of ambulance any time.

Type of ambulances:

BLS unit Toyota Hiace

Emergency unit Mercedes 210 and Sprinter

MICU Mercedes 310 and Sprinter 

Helicopter Ecureuil AS 350 B 

Ambulance plane L 410 UVPE

In case of need we also arrange commercial airline transports with the required medical escort (EMT, paramedic, emergency physician).

Costs for different types of patient’s transport:

Costs for commercial airline transports will be calculated depending on the special cases.