Israel Proposes Easing Ambulance Driver Training Requirements
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Israel's Ministry of Transportation is proposing to temporarily waive the paramedic training requirement for ambulance drivers, allowing them to focus solely on driving while a separate medical professional handles patient care. The change aims to address driver shortages and is modeled after existing systems in the IDF and other countries.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel proposes temporary waiver of paramedic training for ambulance drivers.
- Change aims to expand driver pool and separate driving/medical roles.
- Proposal follows industry requests and models used by IDF, US, Germany.
- Drivers would still need specialized ambulance driving certification.
- Measure is temporary, pending evaluation after elections.
The Israeli Ministry of Transportation is proposing a temporary change to the qualifications for ambulance drivers, allowing individuals without paramedic training to operate ambulances for a period of three years. Under the draft regulations, drivers would still need to complete and pass an approved ambulance driving course but would no longer be required to hold a paramedic certification issued by the Ministry of Health.
Currently, ambulance drivers must undergo a course that includes paramedic training and pass exams approved by both the licensing authority and the Ministry of Health. The proposed change aims to separate the driving and medical roles within an ambulance, enabling a driver who is not a paramedic to work alongside a dedicated medical team member. This separation, according to the Ministry, could expand the pool of available drivers.
The Ministry stated that the proposal stems from requests by industry stakeholders who wish to operate ambulances with drivers lacking paramedic certification, with paramedics being employed separately. The Ministry also noted that similar models separating driver and medical personnel exist within the Israel Defense Forces and in countries like the United States and Germany.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, this division of roles could allow drivers to concentrate solely on driving, especially during emergencies, thereby reducing distractions. Concurrently, the medical team member could focus entirely on patient care. The change is also expected to broaden the available workforce for ambulance driving, as the current paramedic training requirement acts as a barrier for individuals not from a medical background.
The new arrangement is proposed as a temporary measure for three years. During this period, data on staffing, training duration and costs, driving safety, medical treatment, and overall service impact will be evaluated. However, due to the ongoing election period, the draft will be published for public comment but will not be advanced as a regulation until after the elections.