Patients in the capital Dhaka have become hostage by the ambulance syndicate as there is no other option to avoid the syndicate during an emergency.

This powerful ambulance syndicate has been created at every government and private hospital. Drivers of the ambulance syndicate are charging additional fares as their wish taking the advantage of the helplessness of the people. Patients or their relatives are paying extra charges as they have no other means during an emergency.

Around one dozen powerful ambulance syndicates mainly works at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Shishu Hospital,  National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH), Birdem General Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, and National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology.

These syndicates have separate associations and leaders. Surroundings areas of the hospitals are their undocumented offices. They control ambulances from these offices.  No patient can hire an ambulance at the cheapest or fare rate. Even if a patient hires an ambulance from outside of the concerned hospital, they are not allowed to enter or ride. As a result, people have to hire syndicate ambulances at a high rate.

Drivers of four ambulances at Sher-e-Banglanagar told this reporter that they charge Tk 2,000-4,000 for a ride within the city and Tk 5,000-12,000 for adjacent districts. If the distance is more, sometimes they take Tk 20,000 as fare.  

Besides, members of the syndicates are using ambulances to cut the microbuses. These ambulances (Microbuses) have no adequate medical facilities including oxygen cylinders and gas. These ambulances have only one bed for a patient.

Moreover, syndicate members often commit robbery by using these ambulances. In a ward, this ambulance syndicate is reckless and out of control. However, concerned authorities are reluctant to take action against the syndicate.    

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) officials said there is no scope to run the ambulance business under personal ownership. Microbus has no option to run as an ambulance.  

According to BRTA, the country has 8,096 registered ambulances. Out of these, 5,603 ambulances are being operated in the capital Dhaka.

On the other hand, the ambulance owner association said more than 10,000 ambulances are being operated across the country which means 2,000 ambulances are illegal.

Admitting the extra fare and ambulance turns from microbus, Alamgir Hossain, president of the Dhaka Metropolitan Ambulance Owners' Association said all ambulance owners are not involved in these irregularities. In addition, hospitals have no ambulances. People hire the ambulance at a high rate as they are bound to do that for some dishonest ambulance owners.

Specific guidelines or rules must need to run ambulances in the country, he opined.

Contacted BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder said BRTA approves an ambulance for hospitals. If any person runs an ambulance under ownership, it is illegal. There is a provision to take legal action against them. Moreover, BRTA does not fix the fare of ambulances and others vehicles but buses.

“However, we will investigate the matter,” he added.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 26, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.