SEM deploys 45 new ambulances in Alt Pirineu, boosting emergency services

The Medical Emergency System (SEM) started deploying a new healthcare and transport model in Alt Pirineu on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. This initiative involves an investment of over €75.6 million for the next five years, an increase of more than €2 million compared to the previous ten-year contract. The investment will increase the number of ambulances from 38 to 45 units, an 18.4% rise, and renew the entire fleet.

Urgent healthcare transport services will see an increase of nearly 9,550 hours, reaching 133,648 hours annually. This expansion aims to strengthen healthcare coverage in a region characterised by geographical dispersion, mountainous terrain, and high seasonal demand, according to SEM officials.

Areas receiving particular reinforcement include Pallars Sobirà, Vall de Boí, Bellver de Cerdanya, and the region between Alt Urgell and Cerdanya. Notably, ambulance coverage in Sort will extend from 8 to 24 hours, while Bellver de Cerdanya will expand its service from 12 to 16 hours daily. An additional 3,320 hours are allocated for extraordinary situations requiring extra resources.

Enhanced Coverage and New Units

A new reinforcement ambulance will be added to Vall de Boí during the winter and summer seasons, coinciding with peak tourist and healthcare activity. New strategic waiting points, such as Martinet and Montellà, will also be established to improve dynamic resource management and strengthen territorial coverage. Transport Sanitari de Catalunya (TSC) will manage the service in the region.

The new contract will renew all ambulances across Catalonia, introducing over 1,600 new urgent and non-urgent healthcare transport vehicles, nearly 300 more than in the previous contract. These will be incorporated gradually. The new contract also introduces three new types of units, totalling 73 across Catalonia, with seven specifically for the Alt Pirineu Healthcare Region. These units will support both urgent and non-urgent transport, addressing specific healthcare needs and improving system efficiency.

Among these are four multi-purpose ambulances, which will support low-complexity urgent and non-urgent transport, as well as the transfer of patients over 170 kg or those with special needs. These ambulances will be located in Tremp, La Seu d'Urgell, Cerdanya, and Alta Ribagorça.

Specialised Support and Electric Vehicles

A new Healthcare Logistics Support (SLS) unit will provide assistance in incidents with multiple casualties, major emergencies, or long-duration services, and transport emergency psychology professionals. Additionally, two 100% electric shuttle ambulances will be deployed for short-distance transfers between hospitals and healthcare centres, particularly in La Seu d'Urgell and Cerdanya.

The new model's resource distribution is based on technical and scientific criteria developed by SEM in collaboration with the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). An analysis of recent healthcare activity, demographic data, population dispersion, and the region's orographic characteristics informed a resource distribution model designed to ensure more efficient response times and better territorial coverage.

This study helped identify areas with significant activity increases, leading to reinforced coverage with new resources or extended hours. It also established strategic waiting points for dynamic ambulance management based on real-time healthcare needs. The new model also ensures better dual coverage for simultaneous services and a more equitable response in a geographically and mobility-complex region.

Advanced Technology and New Image

One key innovation is the integration of advanced healthcare technology into ambulances. New equipment will allow for more precise diagnostic orientation at the emergency site. Urgent healthcare transport ambulances will be able to perform ultrasounds and immediate blood tests, among other procedures. This will enable early treatment initiation before hospital arrival and help determine the most suitable hospital destination based on patient severity.

All units will also feature individual carbon monoxide detectors for each professional and new portable radio communication systems, enhancing the safety of healthcare teams and patients during operations.

The new model also includes a complete redesign of ambulance aesthetics to improve visibility and safety. The new units will adopt the Battenberg pattern in fluorescent green, a high-visibility marking system that allows emergency vehicles to be identified from up to 500 metres away. This aligns them with European standards and other Generalitat emergency services.

New reflective and luminescent elements will be incorporated across the vehicle body, along with an inverted V-shaped rear marking to improve vehicle detection during roadside assistance. These improvements are complemented by new perimeter and front lighting systems, ensuring visibility in all conditions, and specific devices to reduce driving risks, such as animal deterrents.

SEM Activity in Alt Pirineu

In 2025, SEM managed 19,304 healthcare incidents in Alt Pirineu. Of these, 9,774 required the mobilisation of healthcare resources, while 9,530 were resolved without needing unit deployment. Overall SEM activity in the region also included over 13,400 consultations received and handled by the Healthcare Coordination Centre. Across Catalonia, SEM managed nearly 2.8 million healthcare alerts, resulting in over 2.1 million incidents. Of these, 52% were resolved without resource mobilisation, while the remaining 48% required the activation of healthcare devices. On average, the system handles 7,600 alerts and manages nearly 6,000 incidents daily.