The evidence comparing private and public ambulance quality is limited, inconsistent, and highly context-dependent. More rigorous, multi-country studies using standardized metrics and transparent public reporting of quality indicators regardless of ownership status are urgently needed. Policymakers should exercise caution when integrating private providers into public EMS systems, with careful attention to contract design, terms of collaboration, and the establishment of minimum clinical governance standards to safeguard and improve quality of care.
Wei et al. (Mon,) studied this question.