New vehicles donated by PRIs gathering dust
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: A population of over one and half lakh is suffering badly as out of the total 19 ambulances in Mendhar Sub Division, closer to the Line of Control in Poonch district, 15 are without drivers.
Besides these 19 ambulances, there are 108 Ambulances given in Mendhar Sub Division which are not under the direct control of concerned BMO or the CMO. One such Ambulance has been deployed at Sub District Hospital Mendhar, one at Primary Health Centre Dhar Galoon and one 108 Ambulance at PHC Bhata Durian on main Rajouri-Poonch highway.
Official sources told the Excelsior that most of these Ambulances have been donated by the DDC/ PRI members in their respective areas. At least 9 such new ambulances are just lying in various hospitals in Mendhar Sub Division for the last few years and gathering dust. These vehicles still await deployment of drivers by the Health authorities in the J&K UT.
The shortage of ambulance drivers has been alleged to be the main reason behind the death of a pregnant woman, who could not be rushed fast to Mendhar Hospital from PHC Mankote in the absence of a driver recently.
Nearly a score of ambulances have been lying unused due to shortage of drivers in Mendhar Sub Division for the last about two years. Only four ambulance drivers have been posted by the Health Department in the Sub Division, near the Line of Control, about 55 kms district headquarters. Major PHCs suffering include, PHC Mankote, Dhar Galoon, Bhata Durian, Harni, Balnoi, Balakote, Gursai, Dabraj, Uchhad, Kalaban etc.
Rukhsana Kousar (35), died on June 24 while being shifted to Sub District Hospital in Mendhar from Primary Health Centre, Mankote in a private load carrier because there was no ambulance driver. The doctor and the Pharmacist were also allegedly absent from the PHC when the patient arrived there for treatment.
Block Medical Officer, Mendhar Dr Ishfaq Ahmed when contacted said no doubt we are running short of ambulance drivers, but ambulances are available in all PHCs and Health Sub Centres in the Sub Division, most of them provided by Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI), DDC members.
He said every effort is being made to ensure that the critical care patients and pregnant women do not face any issue. He claimed that the ambulance service is available round-the-clock through 108 and 102 helpline in Mendhar, the location of the main hospital in the entire Sub Division. He said out of the total 19 ambulances, 4 are out of order or you can say `off the road’. !5 are functional but only four drivers are available to run the fleet. He claimed that matter with regard to posting of drivers has been taken up with the higher authorities.
Sources in the Health Department disclosed that many ambulance drivers hired by the Health department had left several month ago, alleging that they were not being paid their salaries regularly.
At least 15 ambulance drivers are required to make the ambulance fleet fully functional, even though the rules demand that a minimum of three drivers are needed for each ambulance to ensure a round-the-clock functioning of the vital service, they said.
Dy CMO Poonch, Dr Parvez Ahmed Khan when contacted said that shortage of driver is not only in Mendhar, such problems are being faced in Mandi or even Surankote and Poonch-Haveli Tehsil. Even the districts like Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda etc may also be facing the same problem. Most of these Ambulances have been donated by the DDCs/ BDCs / PRI members from their own funds but there is no provision of drivers. To resolve this issue, a policy decision is needed to be taken by the higher authorities in the Administration, Dr Khan added.
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