“Nepali people are being taken for a ride by donors who donate vehicles lacking in minimum facilities required to be operated as ambulance,’ said Under-Secretary Kabiraj Khanal at the Policy Planning and International Division at the Ministry of Health and Population.[break]
According to him, only 10 per cent of all the ambulances operated in the capital meet the legal standard.
Khanal said vehicles used as ambulances have been used only in ferrying people during general strike and bandas. He said a genuine ambulance costs minimum Rs. 7.4 million.
Also there is no reliable data on how many ambulances are operating in the country. Khanal said the Ministry of Health lacks the information on this since people can buy ambulances with the permission from the chief of the District Administration Office and the District Public Health Office.
As per the law, an ambulance should be equipped with machines necessary for providing emergency treatment, it should not have seat behind the driver’s seat, it should not be used for any other purpose, it should have the word ‘Ambulance’ written on its body outside that can be seen clearly from far and that the ambulance service should provide the facility free of cost to the poor patients.
Under Secretary Khanal said although ambulances are operated illegally, no authority has taken action against such ambulances.
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