Last Updated on June 16, 2021 at 2:45 pm
Patients and their attendants visiting Government Medical Colleges and Hospital (GMC&H) are being allegedly looted by some private ambulance operators under the name of Charitable Trusts.
As per reports, these private players could be easily found moving inside premises of GMC, mainly in the emergency wing. These agents hide under the name of some Charitable Trusts Ambulance Service.
A regular visitor informed GMC that in any accident case which arrives at GMC&H emergency wing, these agents run after the attendants of patients. These agents then try to convince attendants of the patients to shift to some private hospitals in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana etc. Further he said that patients are then overcharged with huge ambulance fare to the tune of several thousand ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs. 80,000.
As per reports, activists of Dogra Front staged a protest demonstration against these Charitable Trusts. By hiding under the name of charity these agents loot patients. Moreover, not only do they loot patient’s families by overcharging them, these ambulance drivers take commissions from private hospitals as well for shifting patients to their hospital.
Some insiders informed that agents from some private laboratories also keep visiting GMC. “Various tests are recommended by doctors everyday and these agents approach the patient’s family to get a particular test from a private lab by giving them concessions and providing test reports inside the hospital” sources informed. Adding to it insiders informed that administration is totally silent about all this happening in the premises.
Medical Superintendent of GMC&H Dr. ADS Manhas told that he has already given instructions to security officers, not to allow parking of these private ambulance services inside GMC premises.
He further said it is only in the hands of administration to stop parking of these vehicles inside GMC premises but the patient also has right to avail benefit of private ambulance services. “If an ambulance comes to GMC premises to take or drop a patient, entry cannot be denied”, Dr Manhas said.
About agents of private hospitals and labs coming inside GMC premises, Dr. Manhas said that higher authorities have been informed and orders have been passed to security staff.
