What Is ASOS? Turkey's Emergency Health Automation System Explained

ASOS — short for Acil Sağlık Otomasyon Sistemi (Emergency Health Automation System) — is the central information system, run within Turkey's Directorate General of Emergency Health Services, that underpins every licensed ambulance service in the country. Article 4(c) of the 2025 regulation defines it as "the information system used in delivering pre-hospital emergency health services and patient transport services, in which all records and transactions deemed appropriate by the Directorate General are kept and which can be integrated with relevant institutions or organizations where necessary." Under the Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles Regulation that came into force in January 2025, all ambulance operators are legally required to connect to ASOS and use it for case recording, dispatch coordination, and reporting. [1]Source: Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles Regulation (OG-8/1/2025-32776) — Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health

What Does ASOS Do?

In practice, ASOS is the digital spine of ambulance operations in Turkey. Its core functions include:

• Case registration — Every call handled by a licensed service is opened as a case in ASOS the moment dispatch is confirmed (Article 17).
• Real-time Health Command and Control Center (SKKM) coordination — The Health Command and Control Center (SKKM), embedded in the 112 call center, receives instant notification of every case through ASOS.
• Crew tracking — Work schedules for every ambulance crew must be entered into ASOS by the 25th of the preceding month (Article 14).
• Audit trail — ASOS records are the primary source used during the mandatory annual audits (at least three per year, Article 26).
• Data archive — All records are retained for five years; if a service ceases operations, records transfer to the Provincial Health Directorate within 30 days (Article 24).

What Data Does ASOS Record?

ASOS is more than a call-logging tool. In line with the regulation, the main data categories held in the system are: [1]Source: Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles Regulation (OG-8/1/2025-32776) — Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health

• Time and source of the call, and dispatch, on-scene arrival and hospital-handover times
• Basic clinical data on the patient's condition, interventions performed and equipment used
• Identity details of the health personnel on duty
• Monthly duty and work schedules for all crew (Article 14)
• SKKM dispatch assignments and case-outcome data

Private ambulance services are equally obliged to enter every case into ASOS completely and on time (Article 23).

Why Does ASOS Matter for Patients?

Transparency and accountability. Because every case is recorded, patients and regulators can verify response times, crew qualifications, and equipment status. Personal health data processed through ASOS is classified as special-category personal data and is governed by Law No. 6698 (KVKK) and the Ministry's health information security policies (Article 23/4). [1]Source: Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles Regulation (OG-8/1/2025-32776) — Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health[2]Source: Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 — Article 6 — T.C. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi

Nova Ambulans and ASOS

Nova Ambulans is fully integrated with ASOS. Every case — from the initial call to hospital handover — is registered in real time. Our mobile device package in each ambulance keeps the case record updated throughout transport, and the completed form is submitted to the Health Command and Control Center (SKKM) within 24 hours (Article 18).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ASOS and the Health Command and Control Center (SKKM)?

ASOS is the software platform; the Health Command and Control Center (SKKM) is the operational coordination center that uses ASOS data to monitor and direct ambulances. The Health Command and Control Center (SKKM) sits within the 112 emergency call center in each province.

Can patients access their ASOS records?

Patients have data subject rights under KVKK Article 11, including the right to request access to personal data held about them. Contact the ambulance service's responsible manager to initiate a request.

Does ASOS apply to private ambulance services?

Yes. The 2025 regulation requires all licensed ambulance services — public and private — to integrate with ASOS and comply with its recording requirements.

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