Mediocre Medicare No prescribed rate list, critical amenities in pvt ambulances!

Health Deptt writes to MVD, IG traffic; Vaid assures action

JAMMU: Notwithstanding the tall claims of improving the Medicare scenario in state, the private ambulances operating here have no fixed government rates, not to mention the lack of critical amenities such as trained doctor, ventilators, cardiac monitors and defibrillators.

The glare mismanagement and laxities came to fore when authorities from premier Government Medical College & Hospital (GMC&H) wrote to the Director Health and Services, Jammu, darting a copy to the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) and Inspector General of Police, Traffic as well.

Besides forwarding the letter seeking attention of Traffic Police and MVD, the Directorate Health and Services has also written to the RTO Jammu asking them to not to issue license to any other vehicle for ambulance services until or unless they have No Objection Certificate (NOC) from former’s office.

Reports said that the GMC&H authorities was receiving a number of complaints from aggrieved people that ambulance service providers providing services from the city hospitals were plying on their own rates- unfixed and exorbitant to say the least.

Majority of these representations to the authorities demanded the official rate list to be displayed on the wall of the hospital for perusal.

“We were receiving complaints from the patients and attendants that the private ambulance providers who parked their ambulances in the parking lot of the GMC&H have their own rate list. Besides, there are number of complaints that due to absence of an official rate list, private clinics are minting huge money in the name of ambulance services,” Principal GMC Hospital Dr Sunanda Raina confirmed to The News Now.

She added, “Taking the cognizance of complaints, the other departments have been apprised about the loot by the ambulance service providers.”

Dr Dara Singh, Medical Superintendents of GMC hospital said that the rates should have been fixed by the transport department.

“The fixed rates will prevent instances of overcharging from the patients for ambulance services. The rate list will be displayed at the private hospital and also on the private ambulances,” he said.

The Directorate Health and Services has written to the RTO Jammu seeking their attention into the matter.

“Yes, we have received the communiqué from the Directorate of the Health and Services and we are acting upon it accordingly,” said RTO Jammu Deepraj.

The communiqué sent to the RTO Jammu reads, “Apart from the rate list, there are complaints that most of the ambulances that ferry critical patients did not have a doctor trained in emergency medicine besides ventilators, cardiac monitors and defibrillators.”

SSP Traffic and Transport Commissioner also confirmed of being apprised of the matter, and assured appropriate action.

“Most of the ambulances start their services at night, thus evading from traffic police’s eye,” SSP Traffic Joginder Singh reasoned.

“The Motor Vehicle Department will take the cognizance of the burning issue for redressal of the people in need,” said Dr SP Vaid, Transport Commissioner when contacted by The News Now.