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| Major nexus: Registered for charitable purpose, private ambulances mint money | | ‘Fake’ arrested at GMC for fleecing patients, Critical Care Ambulance seized | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 17: Acting on complaint Jammu Police have arrested a fake doctor and seized a Critical Care Ambulance (CCA) from the premises of Government Medical College here.
Insiders told Early Times that despite police arresting the fake doctor and seizing an ambulance there are still over two dozen private ambulances registered for charitable purposes but the operators of these vehicles are fleecing the patients by charging as per their wish. Taking advantage of unchecked movement of these ambulances, the fake doctor was also running a nexus by luring needy people. “Dr Nixon Burat of Christian Colony, Prem Nagar Jammu is not a registered medical practitioner (RMP) as per the guidelines of Medical Council of India (MCI). He was active at Government Medical College Jammu for the past few years.”, sources said, and added that he was found roaming in the premises of GMC Jammu.
“When he was brought to Police Post GMC Jammu, for questioning he introduced himself as Doctor on call for CCA. He acted in active connivance with the ambulance operator /owners”, sources said, adding that he has done MBBS from Russia, but after completing graduation from a foreign country a person has to clear foreign graduate medical exam, but he has not cleared that exam yet.
“A case against the fake doctor has been registered under section 419/420 IPC at Police Station Bakshi Nagar Jammu”, they added.
Sources in GMC said that the matter mushrooming the private ambulances industry in Jammu was taken up with the Director Health Services Jammu, but no action has been taken till date. “Medical Superintendent GMC&H Dr A.D.S. Manhas broke the nexus by imposing a ban on the parking of private ambulances in the hospital premises”, source said.
They further said that there was no check on these ambulances, and being registered for charitable purposes these vehicles are exempted toll taxes. “Equipment for CCA registered for charitable services also tax free. This unholy nexus of doctors and ambulance operators/owners is taking a huge toll on the exchequer. In the absence of any check/regulation the operators/owners of these ambulances are minting huge money from the needy/helpless people during emergency”, they added.
“Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir are authorities for registration of private ambulances, 100 percent private ambulances in Jammu, even in Kashmir are registered for charitable purposes”, sources divulged and added that at present there are more than 50 private ambulances available in Jammu city.
The Director Health Services Jammu is the ambulance registering authority, but checking fares comes under the control of Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Jammu.
Dhanater Singh RTO when contacted said that the transport department has notified the (fare charges) rates of all vehicles. “Since, the ambulances have additional facilities like critical care and others, for these vehicles Director Health Services can fix the rates”, he added.
He further said that Traffic Police is law enforcing agency for the transport department, and it keeps checking ambulances as well.
SSP Traffic Jammu Dr Koushal Sharma when contacted said that district Police have been investigating yesterday’s incident. “If the Police suggest us something after this incident we will certainly incorporate that suggestion in our routine duty”, Dr Koushal said.
Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma did not answer repeated phone calls by this scribe for her comment over misuse of private ambulances. |
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