Ajay Raina
JAMMU, July 22: Acute shortage of ambulances to ferry dead bodies of patients who die in the hospital is proving boon for private operators as the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH)–a premier medical institution of Jammu province is having only two ambulances for shifting the dead bodies.
Despite increasing number of deaths in the accidents, only two ambulances are available in GMCH to cater the needs of the people to shift the dead bodies of their near and dear ones to their respective residences, which clearly shows the neglecting attitude of the hospital authorities, who have not paid serious attention towards the proposal for enhancing the number of ambulances, official sources told the Excelsior.
“GMC Hospital management has been assuring that new fleet of ambulances will be put into service to ferry the dead bodies, but the proposal has been kept at bay”, they added.
They stated that the available ambulances are used for ferrying the dead and their attendants, putting the life of the people at risk, as there is always threat of infections.
“People are now dependent on the persons who have engaged their vehicles in hospitals to carry the dead bodies. It is against the norms and raises question mark on the Government which claims to have received award at national level”, they added.
The shortage of ambulance at GMC Hospital is proving a boon for private ambulance owners, as they are minting huge money by charging double amount as compared to the tariff charged by the hospital ambulances, sources said.
They added that the Government ambulances charge for fuel only. To shift a patient from GMC Hospital to Miran Sahib, a Government ambulance charges nearly Rs 300 to Rs 400 but a private ambulance owner charges an amount between Rs 700 to Rs 1,000–double the amount being charged by Government ambulances.
“The private ambulance operators are fleecing the hapless patients and their attendants in the hour of need especially during odd hours or during emergencies. The private ambulance operators charge as per the whims because the Government has not fixed the tariff for them”, sources said.
“The Government ambulance are always seen parked at some unknown places in the GMCH but the private ambulances can be seen parked just few yards away from the Emergency Ward with their drivers and even owners roaming around in the hospital compound in search of customers”, sources added.
“Tariff needs to be fixed in an effort to keep a check on private and NGO-run ambulance services from charging exorbitant rates”, they stated.
There could be a nexus between private ambulance operators and some officials of the hospital administration which might be the reason that the proposal of introduction of new ambulances could not get approval till date, they said.
Sources added that after awakening from deep slumber, now the hospital administration has framed a proposal to introduce more ambulances so as to cater the needs of the people regarding ferrying dead bodies and the same has been forwarded to the higher authorities for consideration.
When contacted Principal, GMC, Dr Ghanshyam Sharma told Excelsior that “We are working on a proposal to add more ambulance to cater the needs of the people regarding ferrying dead bodies”. A proposal for the same has been under consideration by the Medical Education Department and soon will get approval”, he added.
Regarding private ambulance operators, Dr Sharma stated that the strict directions have been issued to them for not parking their vehicles in the hospital area. If anybody found, action will be initiated by the hospital administration against them, he added.
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