Constitutional Complaint Filed Over Emergency Medical Service Deficiencies
The Björn Steiger Foundation has raised significant concerns over the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Germany, identifying critical deficiencies that necessitate immediate reform. Through a constitutional complaint submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, the organization aims to establish nationwide standards that ensure high-quality emergency care.
According to the foundation's president, Pierre-Enric Steiger, the federal government is failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide a comprehensive, uniform, and high-quality EMS system. He emphasized that the survival of individuals in medical emergencies should not be contingent upon their geographical location or the current condition of the personnel in the emergency call centers. Tragically, systemic issues have led to preventable fatalities in the country.
The constitutional complaint seeks to demonstrate that the current framework violates the Basic Law of Germany, paving the way for necessary improvements across the nation. Steiger clarified that the foundation's complaint targets the conditions that hinder the effectiveness of emergency personnel rather than the individuals who serve in these challenging roles.
In addition to the constitutional complaint, the foundation is also pursuing legal action against the state of Baden-Württemberg. The recent implementation of a controversial new rescue law in the state, which came into effect in August, has been criticized for not improving the situation. The foundation argues that the law fails to adequately clarify responsibilities and structures during emergencies and does not align with international standards.
Historically, Germany's EMS was regarded as one of the most advanced in the world; however, it has since stagnated. Steiger noted that German emergency call centers are inefficient, expensive, and ineffective compared to modern systems employed in neighboring countries such as Austria and the Netherlands. In these regions, emergency services benefit from advanced systems that allow for remote work, ensuring continuous data exchange and consistent quality of service.
The German Medical Association has echoed these concerns, stating that it is unacceptable for the federal government not to set unified standards within the EMS sector, especially when such standards are already established in hospitals and medical practices.
Plans for a comprehensive reorganization of the EMS, which included the establishment of a 'Quality Committee' under the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure minimum standards, were also part of a failed coalition agreement involving the SPD, Greens, and FDP. The collapse of this coalition has left these reforms in limbo.
The future of the constitutional complaint remains uncertain, as the Federal Constitutional Court typically sets high standards for accepting such cases. For the court to consider the complaint, it must possess fundamental constitutional significance.
The Björn Steiger Foundation, based in Winnenden near Stuttgart, has been advocating for improvements in EMS for decades and played a pivotal role in the introduction of the nationwide emergency number 110/112.