Not owning a car, living far from hospital or attending frequent appointments does not by itself establish a right to scheduled ambulance transport. Public medical transport is for patients who cannot use ordinary travel because of physical impossibility or another exclusively clinical cause.
The clinician responsible for the treatment that requires the journey prescribes it. They assess whether the transfer adds risk, select the appropriate form and justify an accompanying person when age or clinical condition requires one. During long courses of treatment, approval is not indefinite and must be reviewed periodically.
Seated, wheelchair or stretcher travel is a clinical choice
Non-assisted medical transport is for patients who need a medical vehicle but no clinical care during the journey. Assisted transport is for those needing care en route. The prescription also states whether the patient can travel seated, boards with their own wheelchair or requires a stretcher, oxygen or other conditions.
Compatible journeys may be grouped when the service is organised. A personal preference to travel alone or at a particular time does not change the clinical category. If the patient’s condition changes, the healthcare team should reassess the prescription rather than the family negotiating a different vehicle directly with the ambulance company.
A privately paid taxi or ambulance follows a different route
Contracted medical transport is not the same as reimbursement for non-contracted travel. The Generalitat has a separate procedure for certain patients medically referred outside their usual area. Within the region it covers defined circumstances including interurban rehabilitation, dialysis, cancer treatment and transplants.
Reimbursement depends on the authorised mode, medical prescription and supporting evidence; paying for a taxi, fuel or private ambulance does not guarantee repayment. For a scheduled appointment, the first contact is the service prescribing the care. For an immediate emergency, the route is 112 rather than an ordinary scheduled-transport request.