The European Court of Justice has set back efforts to privatize ambulance services

The European Court of Justice has set back efforts to privatize ambulance services. “In Germany, state and local governments are responsible for organizing the emergency services. In many cases, they appoint non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross or the Maltese Relief Service to bring emergency patients to the hospital. Often these contracts are awarded without Europe-wide tenders.” The ECJ upheld this practice, which was being challenged by the private, for-profit Falck group of companies from Denmark. In the United States, privatization of public ambulance services has created serious problems.