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Procurement and Maintenance of Equipment for the National Center for Emergency Care’s (EKAV) Air Ambulance Services

Five aircraft procured and specially outfitted through grants totaling $41.6 million are strengthening the capacity of Greece’s National Center for Emergency Care (EKAV)
The second grant completed in Greece under SNF’s Global Health Initiative (GHI) was the delivery of four aircraft to strengthen the capabilities and efficiency of the country’s National Center for Emergency Care (EKAV). Two Augusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters landed in Greece on March 3, 2021, and two Beechcraft King Air 350 airplanes landed on April 14, 2021. Α fifth aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 360C, procured by SNF for EKAV is expected to arrive in Greece in spring 2025, bringing SNF’s total support for medevac aircraft in the country to $41.6 million.

The new aircraft offer safe, prompt air transport for ill and injured patients from remote areas of the country to central locations in Greece and Europe where they can receive the urgent care they need. The new aircraft are used exclusively to enhance EKAV’s services and help it provide them more efficiently, ensuring that emergency pre-hospital care is accessible to all and that EKAV’s specialized air ambulance staff of flying doctors, rescuers, and nurses have the most up-to-date medical equipment at their disposal.

Implementation of the grant was made possible through SNF’s collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Health, which owns the aircraft; EKAV, which uses them; and the Hellenic Air Force, which assists in their flight operation. The aircraft went into operation in June 2021, following training programs for flight and technical personnel conducted by the Air Force. During their first three years of operation, the first four aircraft carried out 2,000 patient transports all across Greece.