Difference Between 112 and Private Ambulance: Which One to Call?

In a medical situation, "should I call 112 or a private ambulance?" is a common point of hesitation. Both services carry patients and can provide emergency care, but their operating logic, legal frameworks, and use cases are clearly different. This guide compares the two on a regulatory basis to help you make the right choice [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

What Is the 112 Emergency Health Service?

112 is the public emergency health service operated under the T.C. Ministry of Health. It is coordinated by the Health Command Control Center (SKKM) and provided to all citizens free of charge [3]Source: Directorate General of Emergency Health Services — 112 Emergency Health Services — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

Core Features of 112

• Emergency-focused: Designed for life-threatening conditions (loss of consciousness, severe trauma, heart attack, serious respiratory distress).
• Dispatch system: By protocol, 112 teams direct the patient to the nearest suitable public hospital. The preference of the patient or relatives is not taken into account [3]Source: Directorate General of Emergency Health Services — 112 Emergency Health Services — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.
• Covered by SGK: 112 services are entirely free for insured citizens and financed from the public budget.
• SKKM coordination: All 112 ambulances are recorded through the Emergency Health Automation System (ASOS) and managed by the Health Command Control Center (SKKM).

What Is a Private Ambulance Service?

Private ambulances are commercial health providers operating under a Ministry of Health license. They can perform both emergency response and planned patient transport [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

Core Features of a Private Ambulance

• Transfer to a preferred hospital: Unlike 112, a private ambulance can carry the patient to the health facility of their choice (including private hospitals).
• Planned services: Discharge transfer, home-to-hospital transfer, intercity patient transport, dialysis transfer, and event medical coverage [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.
• Paid service: As a rule, SGK does not cover a private ambulance the patient requests on their own. The fee is paid by the patient or their relatives; some private health insurance policies may cover it partially or fully.
• SKKM integration: Licensed private ambulances also register in the Emergency Health Automation System (ASOS), report the cases they attend to SKKM, and enter SKKM coordination when needed. The Regulation requires ASOS recording for team duties (Art. 18, 23) and provides that SKKM may assign a case to a team when necessary (Art. 16, 17) [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

You can review relevant services at home-to-hospital transfer and intercity transport.

112 vs Private Ambulance: Comparison Table

On-Scene Emergency Response by Private Ambulances

Licensed private ambulances have emergency response capability and carry an equipped crew. When they come across an emergency during an operation, they are expected to assist at the scene as far as the condition of their own patient allows. This is best understood first as a humane and professional responsibility [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

An important note: although the public or the sector sometimes refers to this situation as "social indication" (sosyal endikasyon), there is no legal term defined under that name in the 8 January 2025 Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services; no such concept appears in the Definitions section (Art. 4). In medical literature, "social indication" generally refers to transfers or procedures driven by social — rather than strictly medical — necessity, so presenting it as a regulatory basis for "mandatory free intervention in any emergency encountered" is incorrect [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

What It Means in Practice

• A licensed private ambulance that comes across an incident is expected to help with the emergency without putting its own patient's safety at risk.
• This kind of response is different from a service the patient requests on their own (which is paid); charging depends on the nature of the call and the regulations.
• The response and the case attended are, per the Regulation, recorded in the Emergency Health Automation System (ASOS) and reported to SKKM (Art. 17) [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

For example, if a private ambulance comes across a traffic accident during an intercity transfer, it is expected to assist at the scene as far as its current patient's condition allows. This is part of the general approach of emergency health services — not a separate "free of charge" rule defined under the name "social indication" in the regulation.

SGK and Private Ambulances: Who Pays?

This is one of the most frequent questions from patients' relatives. Under current legislation:

• 112 services: Fully covered by SGK. The citizen pays nothing [3]Source: Directorate General of Emergency Health Services — 112 Emergency Health Services — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.
• Private ambulance: SGK does not cover a private ambulance the patient requests on their own. However, within the SGK referral system, the ambulance fee may be partially covered — over the minimum tariff — for transfers carried out with a medical-necessity report [2]Source: Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 — Article 65 (Travel and Transfer Expenses) — T.C. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.

Additional coverage routes include private health insurance policies (check the policy terms) and certain private-hospital packages that bundle their own ambulance service.

Which Should You Choose?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do 112 and private ambulances have the same equipment?

Both ambulance types must meet the minimum equipment standards set in the Ministry of Health regulation. However, the ambulance classification (emergency aid, patient transport, intensive care) determines the equipment level — not the public-versus-private distinction. Private fleets may additionally include ICU-equipped vehicles [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

Can I call a private ambulance and 112 at the same time?

In a life-threatening situation, call 112 first. For planned transfers or when you need a specific hospital, you can contact a private ambulance service directly. Calling both at once can waste resources.

Does SGK cover a private ambulance?

As a rule, no. SGK does not cover a private ambulance the patient requests on their own. However, within the SGK referral system, the ambulance fee may be partially covered over the minimum tariff for inter-hospital transfers carried out with a medical-necessity report. Some private health insurance policies may include ambulance service [2]Source: Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 — Article 65 (Travel and Transfer Expenses) — T.C. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi.

When should a private ambulance be called?

For planned discharge transfer, intercity transport, reaching a preferred hospital, regular dialysis/chemotherapy transfer, and event medical coverage. If there is no life-threatening risk and time planning is needed, a private ambulance is the right choice.

Will a 112 ambulance take me to the hospital I want?

No. 112 is required to transfer the patient to the nearest suitable public hospital. There is no right to choose the hospital in the 112 system. If you want a specific hospital, you need a private ambulance service [3]Source: Directorate General of Emergency Health Services — 112 Emergency Health Services — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

Can a private ambulance also respond in an emergency?

Yes — licensed private ambulances have emergency response capability. Official emergency calls are coordinated through 112/SKKM; private ambulances report the cases they attend to SKKM and enter SKKM coordination when needed (Art. 16, 17). When they come across an emergency at the scene, they are expected to assist as far as their own patient's condition allows; this is not a separate obligation defined under the name "social indication" in the regulation [1]Source: Regulation on Ambulances and Emergency Health Vehicles and Ambulance Services (RG-8/1/2025-32776) — T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı.

A Practical Decision Rule

If immediate life risk is present, start with 112. If the case is planned and requires tailored transfer organization, private ambulance coordination may be appropriate.

For planned transfer support in İstanbul, contact Nova Ambulans at 0216 339 00 39.

Related Posts

• What Determines Private Ambulance Costs — pricing criteria and the regulatory framework.
• What Is the SKKM Health Command Control Center? — the center coordinating 112 and private ambulances.