Dozens of Greek ambulances out of service

Around a fifth of the vehicles in the nationwide fleet of the country’s ambulance service (EKAB) are off the road due to repair requirements, according to new figures presented in Parliament on Tuesday by Alternate Health Minister Andreas Xanthos.

Of EKAB’s 620 ambulances, 126 are not roadworthy.

Xanthos said a competition for the acquisition of 90 new vehicles is “at an advanced stage” but it remained unclear whether European Union subsidies have been secured for the purchase.

One hundred of the vehicles in EKAB’s fleet were donated by the Greek Union of Shipowners in 2009.