Two new ambulances for Corfu – EKAB says staffing is adequate

EKAB is receiving five new ambulances on Friday 16 October at an event organised by the Ionian Islands Regional Authority at 12:30 in the port of Corfu’s restricted security area, near the cruise passenger terminal. The event will be attended by EKAB President George Charalambous, following an invitation from Regional Governor Yiannis Trepeklis.

Of the five vehicles, two are intended for Corfu and one each for Lefkada, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

The procurement was carried out under the project “Procurement of 18 Type A, B and C Ambulances for EKAB’s Needs in the Region of the Ionian Islands”, with MIS code 6012157, through the “Ionian Islands 2021–2027” Programme. The budget for this particular contract amounts to €409,200, while the total budget for the project is €2,207,200.

Staffing in Corfu

Regarding staffing, EKAB says that it has sufficient personnel. However, no updated detailed figures have been provided on the number of paramedics currently serving, vacant established posts or the number of available ambulance crews on each shift.

Staffing levels have repeatedly been an issue for the service. In 2021, according to a parliamentary response by then Health Minister Thanos Plevris, 41 paramedics were serving in Corfu, ten of whom were unavailable at the time for various reasons. A request for 20 permanent appointments had also been reported.

In July 2025, it was announced that EKAB Corfu would be reinforced with ten paramedics, allowing the addition of one morning and one afternoon ambulance shift.

Meanwhile, in October 2025, the new EKAB North Corfu Sector was inaugurated in Acharavi, with provision for a ten-person team and a fully equipped ambulance on 24-hour operational standby. At the time of the inauguration, it was reported that the recruitment of permanent paramedics was still pending.

The need for additional staff resurfaced on 1 September 2026, when EKAB issued an official call for ambulance crews from other services and branches to volunteer for temporary transfers to the Corfu Sector, citing increased emergency operational needs. The call covered September and does not establish whether similar staff shortages persist in October.

The service’s current statement that staffing levels are adequate is not accompanied by numerical data on its workforce. It also remains unclear how many ambulances are operating simultaneously in Corfu during the morning, afternoon and night shifts.

As for the two new vehicles, it has not been clarified whether they will replace older ambulances or be added to the active operational fleet. This is the key outstanding question regarding the practical impact of the procurement on emergency coverage across the island.

The visit by the EKAB president to Corfu provides an opportunity for updated figures on staffing and operational availability to be presented, along with the final allocation of the two vehicles among the island’s sectors.

ELENI KORONAKI