Záchranná služba Košice

What Záchranná služba Košice does

Záchranná služba Košice (ZSKE) is the oldest emergency medical service in Slovakia, operating as a state contributory organization (štátna príspevková organizácia) under the Ministry of Health. It delivers 24/7 prehospital emergency care across three Slovak regions (Košice, Prešov, and Žilina) through 65 stations staffed by 850 professionals, handling 138,940 emergency missions in 2025 with a median response time of 9 minutes. Core capabilities include ambulance dispatch via the national 155 emergency line, a 11-unit (expanding to 13) Rendez-vous (RV) physician-staffed rapid-response system piloted in Košice since August 2024, a three-station BSL-4 BioHazard team for high-threat infections, and an ECPR (extracorporeal CPR) programme co-developed with VÚSCH.

The underlying technology stack is operational EMS rather than digital: physician-staffed rapid-response vehicles, AED network mapping at aed.155.sk, the in-house EMA Training Centre with patient simulators, and BioHazard BSL-4 equipment. ZSKE holds the only NAEMT-certified PHTLS training licence in Slovakia and the only PHTLS First Responder authorization, generating fee revenue from accredited courses (PHTLS at €660 per participant, first aid at €30, instructor courses at €300, BLS at €50) and from paid medical assistance at public events (marathons, pilgrimages, corporate events). Primary funding is government contribution, with services free at point of use; secondary revenue from training and event coverage is minor.

Customer segments span the general public (emergency care via 155), Integrated Rescue System partners (memoranda with Košice City Police, HaZZ Košice, military health service), healthcare professionals seeking PHTLS certification, event organizers, and schools. The 2025 customer base included 18,288 runners at the Košice International Peace Marathon and 100,000-150,000 pilgrims at the Levoča Pilgrimage. Scientific partnerships with UPJŠ, VÚSCH, UNLP Košice, and the Institute of Health Analyses produced the first Slovak Rendez-vous system analysis, published in Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, validating ZSKE's evidence-based operational model.

Name

Záchranná služba Košice

Legal name

Záchranná služba Košice

Website

https://zske.sk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Záchranná služba Košice (ZSKE) is the oldest state-funded emergency medical service in Slovakia, operating 65 stations and 850 professionals across the Košice, Prešov, and Žilina regions. It delivers 24/7 prehospital emergency care, NAEMT-certified PHTLS training, and specialized BSL-4 BioHazard response services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kosice

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-funded emergency medical services: As a state contributory organization (štátna príspevková organizácia), ZSKE is primarily funded through the Slovak government's health budget. Emergency medical services are provided free of charge to the public.
2. Fee-for-service training and education: ZSKE generates revenue from accredited training courses, first aid courses, PHTLS provider courses, instructor courses, and life support programs offered to external participants (individuals, organizations, companies).
3. Medical assistance at public events: ZSKE provides professional medical coverage at cultural, social, corporate, and sporting events for a fee, in accordance with Slovak law requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Záchranná služba Košice (ZSKE) is a state-run emergency medical service that delivers 24/7/365 prehospital emergency care across 65 stations in the Košice, Prešov, and Žilina regions, dispatching 850 paramedics and physicians via the national 155 emergency number and handling approximately 138,940 emergency missions and 4,906,258 km of vehicle operations per year. Beyond emergency response, it sells accredited training (first aid courses, PHTLS Provider, PHTLS First Responder, First Aid Instructor, and Emergency Life Support programmes) through its EMA Training Centre and offers paid on-site medical coverage for cultural, sports, corporate, and public events. Specialized capabilities include a BSL-4 BioHazard response team, the rendez-vous (RV) physician rapid response system, ECPR (extracorporeal CPR) with VÚSCH, and the publicly accessible AED network at aed.155.sk.

Product overview

Záchranná služba Košice (ZSKE) operates as an emergency medical service organization providing a comprehensive suite of emergency response and training services. The core offering is 24/7 emergency medical services (EMS) with 65 stations and 850 professionals responding to over 138,000 emergency calls annually. ZSKE maintains an integrated portfolio including: emergency medical response via ambulance services, Rendez-vous physician rapid response system, specialized BioHazard response teams, and medical event coverage services. The training division, centered at the EMA Training Center, delivers accredited courses including First Aid Courses, PHTLS Provider, PHTLS First Responder, First Aid Instructor, and Emergency Life Support programs. Public-facing services include the 116117 health counseling hotline, AED location mapping, patient satisfaction surveys, and the internal publication 'Zachraňujeme životy'. This multi-faceted structure combines operational emergency response with education, public health support, and quality improvement initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tréningové centrum EMA: Educational and training center for continuing education of ZSKE staff, based on Evidence-Based Medicine principles and European guidelines.
• BioHazard tím
• Električka prvej pomoci
• Pulzík
• Električka prvej pomoci

Products and services

• Emergency Medical Services (Záchranná zdravotná služba) 24/7 free-at-point-of-use prehospital emergency medical care across the Košice, Prešov, and Žilina regions, including ambulance dispatch, paramedic and rendez-vous physician-staffed rapid response, CPR and ECPR resuscitation, and patient transport to hospitals. Funded by the Slovak government and operated as a state contributory organization.
• First Aid Courses (Kurzy prvej pomoci) Accredited 8-hour first aid training for the public, drivers, firefighters, schools, and organizations covering CPR, AED usage, and emergency response. Priced at 30 EUR per individual participant.
• PHTLS Provider Courses (Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support) 20-hour, 2-day international NAEMT-certified Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support course for paramedics and physicians, providing a systematic approach to trauma patient assessment and management. Priced at 660 EUR per individual; includes PHTLS manual (English), catering, NAEMT annual membership, international certificate valid 4 years, PHTLS Slovak Republic patch, and t-shirt.
• PHTLS First Responder International PHTLS course adapted for first responders (police, firefighters), preparing them to deliver initial emergency care prior to ambulance arrival. First delivered to Slovak municipal police officers in Košice.
• First Aid Instructor Course (Kurz inštruktora prvej pomoci) 24-hour accredited instructor training programme qualifying healthcare professionals to teach first aid courses to the lay public. Priced at 300 EUR per individual.
• Emergency Life Support Programme (Neodkladná podpora životných funkcií) 8-hour continuing education programme in basic life support for healthcare workers covering CPR, AED, and emergency life support for adults, children, and newborns. Grants credits for continuous professional education. Priced at 50 EUR per individual.
• Medical Event Assistance (Zdravotná asistencia) Professional medical coverage for cultural, sports, corporate, and public events delivered under Slovak law requirements, providing on-site emergency response capability tailored to event size and risk profile.
• Health Counselling Line 116117 Free 24/7 health advisory hotline for non-emergency medical issues, accessible to the public via 116117 and operated as part of the Slovak national emergency medical service operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average response time reduced to 11 minutes (median 9 minutes) across ZSKE coverage area in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Operačné stredisko záchrannej zdravotnej služby SR (155.sk)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE operates within the national emergency dispatch system coordinated by Operačné stredisko ZZS SR. This partnership is central to ZSKE's mission: all 155 emergency calls are routed through this centre, which dispatches ZSKE crews. Joint activities include the rendez-vous pilot project evaluation and the 116117 advisory line operation.
• Východoslovenský ústav srdcových a cievnych chorôb (VÚSCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE collaborates with VÚSCH on educational programmes (EKG diagnostics training seminar) and the ECPR (extracorporeal CPR) project for normothermic patients in prehospital settings. The partnership developed a unified methodology for ECPR including indication criteria, contraindications, ventilation settings, and logistics for early ECPR team activation at the cardiological centre.
• Univerzitná nemocnica L. Pasteura KošicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE collaborates with UNLP Košice on the scientific analysis of the rendez-vous system pilot project. The study was co-authored by experts from ZSKE, Operačné stredisko ZZS SR, UNLP Košice, UPJŠ, and the Institute of Health Analyses of the Ministry of Health SR.
• Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika v Košiciach (UPJŠ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of the first Slovak scientific analysis of the rendez-vous system published in Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. UPJŠ also co-organizes the annual seminar 'Urgentná medicína v zimnom období' with ZSKE and UNLP.
• Inštitút zdravotných analýz Ministerstva zdravotníctva SRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of the scientific study on rendez-vous system effectiveness, providing health data analysis expertise.
• Záchranná zdravotná služba Bratislava (ZZS Bratislava)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE and ZZS Bratislava co-organize the annual RESCUE congress and competition (Memoriál Vladimíra Kostolanského), the premier Slovak emergency medicine professional event. They also jointly developed large-capacity vehicles for mass casualty incident (UHPO) response. The two state emergency services have a long-standing operational and strategic partnership.
• Mestská polícia Košice (Košice City Police)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE and Košice City Police signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen joint preparation for emergency situations. As part of this partnership, ZSKE trained City Police officers in PHTLS First Responder – the first such training for Slovak municipal police. The cooperation includes joint exercises, protocol development, and improved coordination during multi-agency emergency responses.
• Krajské riaditeľstvo Hasičského a záchranného zboru v Košiciach (HaZZ Košice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSKE and HaZZ Košice signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen mutual collaboration on emergency response. The partnership covers joint training exercises, information exchange, and cooperation on mass casualty incidents and biohazard events. The cooperation builds on a prior joint tactical exercise at Košice Airport.
• Krajské riaditeľstvo Policajného zboru v KošiciachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration under memoranda of cooperation for educational activities, joint exercises, and professional training of police officers in emergency medical response.
• Veliteľstvo vojenského zdravotníctva RužomberokminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on educational activities under memoranda of cooperation for joint training of military health service personnel.
• Lekárska fakulta UPJŠ (Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the annual seminar 'Urgentná medicína v zimnom období' (Emergency Medicine in Winter), held at the Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ. The seminar brings together over 400 emergency medicine professionals for continuing education and knowledge exchange.
• Dopravný podnik mesta KošiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ZSKE on the 'Električka prvej pomoci' (First Aid Tram) project, a mobile education platform that parks at public locations to educate citizens on first aid and emergency response.
• Mesto Košice (City of Košice)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMesto Košice partners with ZSKE on the Električka prvej pomoci project and other public health initiatives including the 'Primátorská kvapka krvi' blood donation drive. The city supports ZSKE's public education and community outreach programmes.
• Národná transfúzna služba SRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ZSKE on the 'Primátorská kvapka krvi' blood donation event held at the Električka prvej pomoci vehicle, promoting blood donation among citizens.
• Letisko Košice (Košice Airport)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of the mass casualty (UHPO) exercise at Košice Airport, which tested the response capabilities of ZSKE and other integrated rescue system components. The exercise used an aircraft ARFF simulator for the first time in Slovakia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• NAEMT (National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians): US-based professional association that certifies the PHTLS curriculum ZSKE delivers. Not a direct competitor but a critical enabling partner — ZSKE is the only NAEMT-certified PHTLS training center in Slovakia, making this peer a strategic ecosystem participant.
• Slovenský Červený kríž (Slovak Red Cross): National Red Cross society offering first aid training and event medical support in Slovakia. Overlaps with ZSKE's training division and event assistance services, particularly for first aid courses and public CPR/AED education; operates as a complementary not-for-profit rather than direct competitor.
• VÚSCH (Východoslovenský ústav srdcových a cievnych chorôb): Eastern Slovak Institute of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases — strategic partner rather than competitor, but adjacent in cardiac/emergency care delivery. Co-implements ECPR with ZSKE and provides the in-hospital destination for many ZSKE cardiac missions.

Emerging players

• St John Ambulance: UK-based charity providing event medical coverage, first aid training, and ambulance services. Comparable to ZSKE's training and event medical assistance arms with overlapping course portfolio (first aid, BLS/AED, instructor certification), though operating under a charitable rather than state model.
• Rapid Rescue Medical Services: European private event medical coverage provider with similar portfolio to ZSKE's 'Zdravotná asistencia' service line. Comparable in offering on-site medical teams for sporting, cultural, and corporate events but operating commercially across multiple European markets rather than regionally.

Broad incumbents

• Falck Group: Global EMS and healthcare services provider operating across Europe and other geographies. While substantially larger and private-sector, Falck operates ambulance services, training, and event medical coverage analogous to ZSKE's portfolio, with comparable two-tier physician/paramedic response models in several markets.
• Global Medical Response (AMR): One of the largest US-based EMS providers offering ambulance transport, mobile healthcare, and event medical services. Comparable business model to ZSKE (911 response, interfacility transport, training) but at vastly larger scale and as a commercial operator.

Regional players

• Záchranná zdravotná služba Moravskoslezského kraje: Czech regional EMS provider in the Moravian-Silesian region bordering Slovakia. Comparable in operating model (physician + paramedic crews, station network, training division) and Central European regulatory framework, though serving a different national jurisdiction.

Direct peers

• Záchranná služba Košice-okolie (susedné ZZS): Other Slovak regional state contributory EMS organizations (e.g., ZZS Trenčín, ZZS Banská Bystrica, ZZS Nitra) operating under identical legal framework. Direct peers serving distinct geographic regions with comparable scale and service portfolio.
• Záchranná zdravotná služba Bratislava: Slovak state-run emergency medical service operating in the Bratislava region. Direct peer with identical legal form (štátna príspevková organizácia), co-organizes the RESCUE congress with ZSKE, and jointly developed UHPO mass casualty vehicles. Same regulatory framework and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zachranna-sluzba-kosice

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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