The NMPD reminded the public that calls to situations where someone has a serious or life-threatening medical issue remain free of charge.
If there is no serious threat to human health or life or the situation is not urgent but the caller nevertheless insists of the presence of the emergency team, the dispatcher can charge the caller. Similarly, if someone has prank-called or falsely reported an urgent situation, a fee can be applied.
The fee applied in such situations will now be EUR 74.35, slightly higher than the previous EUR 71.62. Though the price increase is not huge, the NMPD used the occasion to remind the public that the emergency number 113 should be called if the situation is urgent: if someone loses consciousness, is not breathing or has trouble breathing, if there is a severe injury or heavy bleeding, or sudden acute illness, like sudden chest pain that could signify a heart attack.
Every day, the NMPD respond to around 1,000 calls, of which around 10 are paid service calls. The paid service calls are only dispatched if the situation allows so.
