Foundation of Belgrade emergency medical services in 1969

The development and functioning of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) after the World War II could be divided into four stages: the first ten postwar years represent the lost time when the citizens of Belgrade were de facto without emergency medical assistance. What was considered at the time to be the Station for Emergency Medical Assistance was in fact something below acceptable standards. The second stage started in 1954/55 when the reconstruction of Emergency Medical Station in Belgrade actually started. That year, the Emergency Service Station regained an organizational model from 1935/36 as well as all resources that characterize EMS, such as medical vehicles with built-in radio-communication systems, provided offices and garage space; built-in automatic telephone exchanges with a unique code 94 were renewed along with the necessary personnel. The first Emergency Service Substation was opened in Zemun. It was a huge although insufficient step in the post-war of EMS development, which did not follow the real needs of Belgrade with its expansive economic development and demographic explosion. The railway accident that happened in Jajinci in 1964 was the first real test in this respect and, unfortunately, very unsuccessful. The third stage was the period after the accident in Jajinci, until the constitutional reforms in 1974 that represented the culmination of a successful development of Belgrade EMS in all aspects of work process. And finally, the fourth stage was after the period of constitutional reforms, until the disintegration of former Yugoslavia in 1992. This stage is characterized by stagnation and continued and persistent efforts of all business structures to maintain the achieved level of the development and functioning of EMS in the previous period. The fact that over 18 years, while this stage lasted, the EMS changed as much as ten directors genuinely reflects how difficult and uncertain this period was.