JALANDHAR:In a bid to tighten the noose on the private ambulances which are making windfall gains by charging ‘exorbitantly’ for ferrying patients infected with Covid-19, The Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Thursday has constituted a five-member committee and fixed the charges for the private ambulances.
The Committee would be headed by Secretary RTA Barjinder Singh along with Assistant Commissioner (G) Hardeep Singh, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Gurmeet Kaur Duggal, Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Anu and a representative of ambulance service Provider Company.
The Deputy Commissioner has also fixed tariffs for the ferrying the Covid patients by three type of ambulances.
Detailing about tariffs, he said that BLS Ambulance having up to 2000cc with basic life support will charge Rs 1000 (up to 15-km) and Rs 10 per KM if exceed the limit of 15-km, BLS Ambulance having 2000cc and above with basic life support will charge Rs 1000 (up to 15-km) and Rs 12 per KM if ambulance covers more than fixed distance.
“Rs 1000 (up to 15-km) and Rs 15 per KM more than limit if the ambulance is ALCS equipped with advanced cardiac life support” Thori added.
The Deputy Commissioner said that these rates would be applicable from the point of ferrying the patients to the place where they will drop them. He said that drives of the private ambulances will have to maintain the complete logbook of the entries.
Further, the ambulance service providers or drivers will also be responsible for providing PPE kits to COVID patients from the point of picking and dropping them, he told
He said that it was need of the hour to ensure patients do not face any kind of problem while being availing the services of private ambulances.
He said that if anyone finds flouting of these fixed charges by private ambulance providers, he or she can file a complaint on control room number 0181-2224417.
Deputy Commissioner reiterated that district administration was fully equipped with resources and manpower to combat COVID 19 and no stone would be left unturned for this noble cause adding that war against Corona Virus would be won with the support of people, who could contribute their share by confining them to home.