Summary
Non-urgent medical transport (TMS), also known as non-urgent patient transport by ambulance (TNUP), falls under regional jurisdiction. Examples include:
- a patient transfer between two hospitals;
- a hospital examination of a patient on a stretcher;
- the repatriation of a hospitalized patient from abroad while lying down.
The urgent transport of a patient by ambulance following a call to 112 (traffic accident, heart problem, etc.) is a federal responsibility governed by the legislation on Emergency Medical Assistance (AMU).
TNUP vehicles do not bear visible “112” markings and are not equipped with the same equipment as an ambulance used for emergency transport.
AVIQ is responsible for:
- the licensing and closure of TMS;
- monitoring compliance with standards defined by Walloon legislation. The legislation covers, in particular, mandatory training for paramedics, the equipment that must be present in the ambulance, the administrative obligations of operators toward the AVIQ, and transportation rates.
With regard to pricing, the amounts are indexed annually according to the consumer price index (health index).
Key points
AVIQ is responsible for:
- the licensing and closure of TMS facilities;
- monitoring compliance with standards defined by Walloon legislation. The legislation covers, in particular, mandatory training for paramedics, the equipment that must be present in ambulances, the administrative obligations of operators toward the AVIQ, and transportation rates.
With regard to pricing, the amounts are indexed annually according to the consumer price index (health index).
In detail
Operators in the non-emergency medical transport (TMS) sector
To apply for a TMS (Non-Urgent Medical Transport) accreditation, your organization must have at least two paramedics trained in the non-emergency transport of patients who hold a federal VISA.
You must also provide the following documents:
- a copy of the registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises or the company’s articles of incorporation;
- a copy of the poster or other material informing patients of the company’s rates;
- proof of the paramedics’ employment: individual pay stubs and employment contracts;
- a copy of the hygiene protocols in place: cleaning and disinfection of ambulances, care for contagious patients, waste disposal, and staff hygiene;
- a copy of the agreement with a pharmacy or oxygen supplier;
- a copy of the certificate from the most recent technical inspection and a copy of the Green Card for each ambulance;
- a copy of the liability insurance covering the staff and a certificate from the insurer;
- proof that ambulance personnel have successfully completed TMS training at an accredited center prior to employment.
- An ATNUP Federal Visa (Non-Emergency Patient Transport Paramedic)
You must submit your application for certification to AVIQ.
To do so:
- fill out the form provided for this purpose;
- attach all the required documents.
- a copy of the registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) or the company’s articles of incorporation;
- copy of the poster or other material informing patients of the company’s rates;
- proof of the paramedics’ employment: individual pay stubs and employment contracts;
- a copy of the hygiene protocols in place: cleaning and disinfection of ambulances, care for contagious patients, waste disposal, and staff hygiene;
- a copy of the agreement with a pharmacy or an oxygen supplier;
- a copy of the certificate from the most recent technical inspection and a copy of the Green Card for each ambulance;
- a copy of the liability insurance covering the staff and a certificate from the insurer;
- proof that ambulance personnel have successfully completed TMS training at an accredited center prior to employment.
- an ATNUP Federal Visa (Non-Emergency Patient Transport Paramedic)
Walloon Government Order of May 12, 2005 Decree of October 10, 2013, amending certain provisions of the Walloon Code of Social Action and Health relating to medical and health transportation
Appeal to the Walloon Government
You may file an administrative appeal against this decision if you are the official recipient and have been formally notified of the decision in accordance with Article 31 of the Walloon Decree Code on Social Action and Health.
You must file this appeal within one month of receiving notification of the decision with the Secretariat of the Advisory Commission on Appeals for Social Action and Health Matters.
This appeal may be submitted:
- by certified letter or by any other means that provides a definite date of dispatch, to the following mailing address: Avenue Bovesse, 100, 5000 Namur;
- by email to the following email address:
commission.recours.social@spw.waIIonie.be .
Your appeal must include:
- your last name, first name, and address, or the registered office of your organization;
- the subject of the appeal;
- a statement of the facts and your arguments;
- a copy of the contested decision.
The secretariat will acknowledge receipt of your appeal. It will forward it to the Appeals Advisory Committee within fifteen days.
An administrative appeal is mandatory before any appeal may be filed with the Council of State.
Appeal to the Council of State
An action for annulment before the Administrative Litigation Division of the Council of State may be filed by third parties who were not the addressees of the decision. To do so, they must be able to demonstrate a sufficient interest.
The appeal must be filed within 60 days:
- from the date of publication of the decision;
- or the date on which the decision was actually brought to the applicant’s attention.
The procedural rules governing the filing of petitions and their content are available on
Complaint to AVIQ
In addition to the option of appealing to the Walloon Government, you may file a complaint with AVIQ. This procedure is particularly appropriate if you have new information that could not be taken into account at the time the decision was made.
PLEASE NOTE: A complaint is NOT an appeal. Filing a complaint does not suspend the deadline for filing an administrative or judicial appeal.
The complaint must be filed within three months of notification of the decision, using the form available on the AVIQ website. You can submit this form:
- by email (
reclamation@aviq.be ); - by post to "Agence pour une Vie de Qualité - Support Department 1 — Customer Satisfaction Unit - Legal, Litigation, and Public Procurement Division — Rue de la Rivelaine, 21 — 6061 CHARLEROI".
If you are not satisfied with the response to your complaint, you may still contact the Ombudsman of the Walloon Region.
Complaint to the Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
If you are not satisfied with the response provided by the AVIQ following the complaint you filed, you may contact the Ombudsman of the Walloon Region. The Ombudsman’s role is to assist anyone experiencing difficulties with an administrative body of Wallonia or the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
The Ombudsman attempts to reconcile the perspectives of both parties and to re-establish dialogue between the citizen and the regional and community administrative services.
The Ombudsman may propose a solution, provide additional information, facilitate mediation, or make a recommendation based on fairness, among other actions.
This process is free, confidential, and impartial, but is only available if you have previously filed a complaint with the AVIQ and that complaint has remained unresolved and is not the subject of an administrative or judicial appeal.
How can you contact the Ombudsman?
- by email:
courrier@Ie-mediateur.be ; - via the online form on the Ombudsman’s website;
- by post (Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation - Rue Lucien Namèche, 54 - 5000 Namur);
- by toll-free phone: 0800 19199;
- in person, by appointment, at the institution’s headquarters in Namur or at one of its contact points.
Forms
To download
-
TMS Approval Application Form
Useful links
AVIQ - Non-urgent Medical Transport (TMS)
