Scientists from the TU Berlin and the Charité are calling on the Senate to ensure that the fire brigade’s three stroke emergency vehicles continue to operate beyond this year.

The Stroke Mobile (“Stemo”) are equipped with computer tomographs, mini-laboratories and telemedicine and have been in use since 2011. The rescue vehicles offer first aid to stroke patients, who in many cases have already died, avoiding traps, saving lives and causing severe brain damage. In 2019 the Senate decided to discontinue the project at the end of 2021 for cost reasons. In 2020, the operating costs of the Stemos were around 3.4 million euros.

A study by the TU Berlin has now shown that the continued operation of these vehicles could be worthwhile. “Yes, it is more expensive, but it is justifiable,” said Reinhard Busse from the TU Berlin of the rbb evening show.

The scientists determined the cost of a Stemo use compared to the supply and applied this to the improved medical results. Both the extension of life and the increase in quality of life were taken into account. The preliminary results of the analysis result in costs of around 41,000 euros per year of life gained with fully preserved quality of life. “That is in the range of the accepted range for health gains in our societies,” said Busse.

The Charité is also convinced of the project. The clinic has addressed the political authorities with an internal letter. For example, “in view of the current political transition phase”, “the necessary decisions will now be taken as soon as possible”, according to the Charité.

At the request of the rbb-Abendschau, the responsible Senate Department for the Interior said that a final decision on the continued operation of the Stemo rescue vehicles had not yet been made: and to be able to finance and ensure professional care of the Berlin population with emergency rescue services. “

Broadcast: evening show, October 27th, 2021, 7:30 p.m.