Estonian and Latvian Ambulances Reach Across Border to Save Lives
Ministers of the neighboring countries sign a protocol Friday in the border town of Valga/Valka, aiming to improve cross-border access during medical emergencies.
The agreement foresees that in cases needing urgent attention, the Estonian side can summon the Latvian ambulance crew for help, should the teams on the Estonian side be out on call, and vice versa.
Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur said, "While the European Union is only just discussing cross-border medical aid, the agreement signed today is a practical measure that improves access to emergency medical aid today."
"Health and security are two very closely related topics, and all agreements reached in this field will give homeowners in the border region a better sense of security," said Minister of the Interior Marko Pomerants. "Our emergency call center [...] already has the capability of offering fast and high-quality services to the residents of both Valga and Valka; however, this requires concrete arrangements in the field of medical care," the minister added.
On the Latvian side, the agreement was signed by Minister of Health Didzis Gavars.