Emergency medical services in South Africa

Operations are normally administered at the local level through the Emergency Management Service,[2] which oversees police and fire protection as well.

Who work alongside the South African Air Force since the high altitude dictates the use of military specification helicopters.

And is now changed to a Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (DIPEMC) a two-year NQF 6 full-time study at a college or university.

CCA,DIPEMC and NDIP are all registered as a Paramedic - Ambulaans Nood Tegnikus(ANT) with the Health Professions Council South Africa and they can continue to do an additional 2 year Bachelours (B-Tech) now formally changed to Bachelours in Emergency Medical Care (BEMC) a four-year full-time degree.

[7] ECT and NDIP has been merged into the now known DIPEMC or Paramedic category Further opportunities for educational advancement exist for the ECP, as they are able to articulate into various Masters (M.EMC)(Mphil.EM)(MSc.EM) and Doctorate (DEMC)(PhD) programmes.

[10] Given the economics of the system and its current reliance on volunteers in some communities and locales, it remains unclear whether it will be either possible or practical to eliminate the BAA certification for anyone other than paid staff in the near future.

The mid-level course is 2 years in duration, and exits on a level slightly above Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA), but below Advanced Life Support (ALS).

The five institutions in the country currently presenting the ECP qualification are the: Under the old system, all levels of EMS personnel essentially functioned as an extension of their Medical Director's license to practice medicine.

ALS is required to be dispatched in support of the ambulance crew to all Priority 1 (Code Red) patients (those with high-acuity conditions or injuries).

[12][13][14] In the past, EMS dispatch has occurred from a variety of sources, and in many cases, has involved self-dispatch, which the currently operating private companies still do.

However, response times of fifteen minutes for high-acuity calls in urban areas are considered acceptable, By Private Emergency Medical Services.