How to Book an Intercity Ambulance in Turkey

To book an intercity ambulance in Turkey, call Nova Ambulans on 0216 339 00 39 or send a WhatsApp message to 0549 461 34 00 (24/7). Share the patient's condition, the pickup and destination addresses and the preferred date. The operations team then assigns an ICU-equipped Emergency Ambulance and crew, with a physician on request. Nova transfers patients between any two of Turkey's 81 provinces.

Intercity ambulance booking is not only a transport request. It is a clinical and operational plan that starts before departure and continues until handover at the destination facility. In İstanbul and across Turkey, families usually need quick, clear answers about eligibility, timing, and the process. The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that "delays of minutes can make the difference between life and death" in time-critical care 2 — and the same time-discipline applies to scheduled long-distance transport.

Each mission is planned according to patient stability, required monitoring level, route conditions, and destination acceptance. Turkey's Ambulance Services Regulation (8 January 2025) defines vehicle types in Article 5 and intercity waiting rules in Article 30/1-k 14, while real-time route hazards are checked through KGM's road-conditions feed 3. SGK generally does not reimburse private intercity ambulance services that the patient initiates; check current terms with SGK. 5

Why Intercity Transfer Needs Special Planning

There are important differences between in-city transport and an intercity transfer:

• Distance and duration: Travel time is measured in hours; patient comfort and safety must be maintained over a long period
• Team competence: An experienced crew is needed in case the clinical picture changes on a long route
• Equipment adequacy: Oxygen reserve, drug stock, and emergency-intervention equipment must be planned in proportion to the distance 1
• Logistical coordination: Pickup point, destination facility, route, rest plan, and handover procedure must be coordinated
• Continuity of communication: Contact with the family, patient, and (where relevant) the destination hospital must be maintained throughout the journey

The Booking Process: 7 Steps

1. First Contact

You reach the operations team by phone (0216 339 00 39) or WhatsApp. On the first call, share these essentials:

• The patient's general condition (stable / under observation / intensive care)
• Pickup and destination cities
• Planned date and any appointment time
• Urgency level (planned / semi-urgent)

2. Patient Information Sharing

Detailed patient information is critical for setting the right crew and equipment configuration:

• Identity details: First name, last name, age
• Current medical status: Diagnosis, stage of treatment, latest clinical assessment
• Mobility level: Bed dependency, sitting tolerance, ability to walk unaided
• Stretcher need: Is a stretcher required, or is a wheelchair suitable
• Medical-support requirements: Oxygen use, SpO2 monitoring, ECG monitoring, IV infusion
• Medication details: Active treatment protocol, drugs to be administered en route
• Allergies and special conditions: Drug allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, and similar considerations

3. Address and Logistics Details

Address details are important for the operation to proceed smoothly:

• Pickup address: Building floor, elevator availability and capacity, stretcher clearance width, building entrance
• Destination address: Hospital name, department, admission details, appointment time
• Planned date and time: If there is an appointment time, the departure time is calculated from the route duration
• Companion details: How many people, and whether they ride in the ambulance or follow in a separate vehicle

4. Ambulance and Team Assignment

All Nova Ambulans vehicles are ICU-equipped Emergency Ambulances (Acil Yardım Ambulansı); a physician is added on request. The appropriate crew configuration is determined from the patient information:

The crew configuration is recommended by the operations team based on the patient information. The final decision is made in coordination with the patient's treating physician. 1

5. Transparent Pricing

All cost components are stated clearly before the service:

• Distance-based fee: Calculated by route kilometers 3
• Team structure: Physician accompaniment, if requested, is charged separately.
• Extra equipment: Any special equipment need (for example, a portable ventilator) is stated separately

See our Pricing page for the current tariff; the price is shared in writing at the first call.

6. Pre-Transfer Confirmation

Final coordination is done before the transfer day (usually one day prior):

• Confirmation of the pickup and departure time
• Checking whether the patient's condition has changed
• Verifying the destination hospital's acceptance status
• Companion preparation briefing (ID, patient file, medications)
• A final check of building-access details

7. Transfer and Handover

The team arrives at the planned time and follows this process:

• On-site patient assessment and safe loading
• Recording vital signs before loading
• Continuous monitoring and regular vital-sign recording throughout the journey
• Continuity of family communication (road status, estimated arrival)
• Detailed clinical handover and written transfer to the destination facility

For case-based planning — for example, a Friday-evening İstanbul-Antalya transfer (~720 km / 8-9 hours) where oxygen needs, building access at the pickup, and destination admission time all need to align in one call — reach Nova Ambulans at 0216 339 00 39. This first call determines whether an emergency ambulance, ICU patient transport, or home-to-hospital transfer setup is most appropriate.