At a time when media reports abound with stories of people forced to ferry ailing relatives in private vehicles in absence of ambulances, hospital ambulances in District Hospital Anantnag are being used to ferry clerical staff at different destinations.One such ambulance from District Hospital Anantnag (JK03D-6468) was seen parked in the premises of Directorate of Health Service Kashmir on Monday. The ambulance arrived in Srinagar with clerical staff for a ‘personal’ meeting with some officials of the Directorate.The driver of the ambulance was seen waiting in the parked vehicle for hours in the premises of the Directorate. “I am duty bound and I to follow the directions from the top,” said the driver of the ambulance when CNS asked him why he has been ferrying clerical staff in the vehicle meant for ailing patients.Such incidents are not new in Kashmir.
Last year an ambulance driver from District Hospital Pulwama was photographed when he was carrying sacrificial animals belonging to Health official in the vehicle.The photograph had gone viral and the Department was forced to initiate action against the erring driving and the official.The attendants at District Hospital Anantnag frequently complain about the absence of ambulances in the hospital. “There are five ambulances in the hospital, but you will only find a one or two ambulances here while rest are being used by staff for personal works,” said a senior citizen.When contacted, Dr Mehbrab, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Anantnag first said that the vehicle in question is for his personal use and when he heard about the registration number of the ambulance, he said that the driver had gone to Srinagar to drop a patient in the hospital and some clerics accompanied him. (CNS)