Description
The National Ambulance Service is Hungary’s largest ambulance and healthcare organisation, which has been operating for 75 years. Its roots reach back to the second half of the 19th century in Hungary, which in 1887 was one of the first European countries to introduce an organised ambulance service. At that time, the Voluntary Ambulance Association was formed in Budapest, at the initiative of Géza Kresz, a district physician. After World War I, the network of ambulance stations was extended across the country in 1926. On 10 May 1948, the National Ambulance Service (OMSZ) was officially founded as a uniform, government-operated service. The original network of 76 ambulance stations in 1926 has now grown to 256 stations with 780 ambulance units and 8,500 staff. While its scope of activities is constantly expanding and it uses the most modern methods and equipment, the OMSZ continues to preserve its traditions and values, as expressed by the organisation’s motto: A calling for life!
The Hungarian ambulance system has some unique features. For instance, only Hungary has college-level training for ambulance personnel. The National Ambulance Service places great emphasis on providing immediate medical attention and works to stabilise the patient’s condition as quickly as possible, which requires significant technical resources and professional skills.