Syed Shemul Parvez :
Allegations have been raised against the private ambulance companies who are extremely take high fare as their wish from the general people in the name of providing service.
As a result, the patients and their relatives have to suffer a lot for high fare collection which apparently creates pressure on them.
Meanwhile, ambulance owners said that they are taking money as there is no rental policy fixed by the health authorities.
It is learned that there are about 2500 private ambulances in the capital.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) officials, however, said that it was very difficult to control the operation of ambulance, but they are planning to bring the service under a coordinated policy.
According to the relatives, patient Rahima Begum was brought to Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) from city’s Kalyanpur area recently.
From Kalyanpur to DMCH, the private ambulance driver wanted Tk 2000 as fare.
After bargaining, only 5-6 km road fare was fixed at Tk 1600.
An agitated relative of the patient said, they were bound to go to DMCH for treatment from Kalyanpur for Tk 1,600 finding no other way. Some even allegedly charge more than that, he added.
Sources said on condition of having air conditioning and oxygen facilities, some ambulances are charging minimum Tk 1500 – Tk 2000 for only one km journey in the city.
Besides, when patients go out of the capital city with an ambulance, the drivers charge exorbient fare from them.
Relative of another patient told that ambulance fare is much higher here (capital). There are no regulations as well as controlling systems. Everyone can collect the fare as he wishes, he added.
On the other hand, ambulance drivers said, we do not have any fare chart. That is why we are taking whatever we get from the patients.
When contacted, Golam Mostafa, President of the Ambulance Owners’ Association, said that the drivers are taking as much as fare since there was no rental policy yet.
However, if the government plans and makes a chart for the ambulance drivers, then more fare could not be taken from the people.
Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS Dr Farid Hossain Mia said, there should have been a policy. But unfortunately it is absent here now. Let’s see if we can do something in the future.
Allegations have been raised against the private ambulance companies who are extremely take high fare as their wish from the general people in the name of providing service.
As a result, the patients and their relatives have to suffer a lot for high fare collection which apparently creates pressure on them.
Meanwhile, ambulance owners said that they are taking money as there is no rental policy fixed by the health authorities.
It is learned that there are about 2500 private ambulances in the capital.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) officials, however, said that it was very difficult to control the operation of ambulance, but they are planning to bring the service under a coordinated policy.
According to the relatives, patient Rahima Begum was brought to Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) from city’s Kalyanpur area recently.
From Kalyanpur to DMCH, the private ambulance driver wanted Tk 2000 as fare.
After bargaining, only 5-6 km road fare was fixed at Tk 1600.
An agitated relative of the patient said, they were bound to go to DMCH for treatment from Kalyanpur for Tk 1,600 finding no other way. Some even allegedly charge more than that, he added.
Sources said on condition of having air conditioning and oxygen facilities, some ambulances are charging minimum Tk 1500 – Tk 2000 for only one km journey in the city.
Besides, when patients go out of the capital city with an ambulance, the drivers charge exorbient fare from them.
Relative of another patient told that ambulance fare is much higher here (capital). There are no regulations as well as controlling systems. Everyone can collect the fare as he wishes, he added.
On the other hand, ambulance drivers said, we do not have any fare chart. That is why we are taking whatever we get from the patients.
When contacted, Golam Mostafa, President of the Ambulance Owners’ Association, said that the drivers are taking as much as fare since there was no rental policy yet.
However, if the government plans and makes a chart for the ambulance drivers, then more fare could not be taken from the people.
Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS Dr Farid Hossain Mia said, there should have been a policy. But unfortunately it is absent here now. Let’s see if we can do something in the future.
