Ambulances fleece kin of Covid victims in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Though the health department has capped rates of beds in private hospitals, ICUs and even life-saving medicines, it appears that there is no control on private ambulances fleecing Covid patients and their families.
They are also charging hefty amounts for taking bodies of Covid victims to crematoriums. Health department officials now say capping of private ambulances charges is also needed.
TOI on Sunday visited various hospitals to know what private ambulances were charging from Covid patients and also for transporting bodies of Covid victims.
Though the state government has arranged for free transportation of bodies of Covid victims to crematoriums in addition to free last rites, most people are ignorant about it and are not informed by private hospitals.
Also there is a order by district transport officer(DTO) issued on October 1, 2020 in which the prices of private amulances were capped and stated that for first 10 kms they should charge Rs 500, still it has not been complied with.
“I lost my father during the early hours. I came at 6.30 am to claim the body. Thereafter, our relatives looked for a private ambulance to transport the body to the crematorium. We were asked to pay Rs 5,000 despite the fact that crematorium was merely 10 km away from the hospital at Jawahar Circle,” said Rameshwar Singh from Aadarsh Nagar crematorium.
While talking to relatives of those who lost their kin on Saturday and Sunday, it was learnt that private ambulances are charging Rs 1500 to Rs 6000 to transport the bodies to crematoriums and there was no control on the rates. Also, for bodies to be transported to other parts of Rajasthan, rates were as high as Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000.
ACP (crime) Ajay Pal Lamba said, “In our control room set up to help the public, we are getting calls asking for beds at hospitals, crisis of injections and others. So far people have not approached us on fleecing by private ambulances. If we come across any complaints, we will take action.”
Siddhath Mahajan, secretary, medical and health said, “We had capped bed charges, ICU charges and also the charges of life-saving injections. As far as private ambulances are concerned, we too have got such complaints. I will talk to the authorities of the transport department to get it capped too so that people are not fleeced. On the other hand, we have made provisions to transport bodies of Covid victims to crematoriums for free.”