Government fixes ambulance rates in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday fixed the rate for availing of different types of ambulance services in the wake of reports of exorbitant tariff charged by many such vehicle operators during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has warned of stringent action if the ambulance operators defy the order.
In a notification, the commerce and transport department has finalized the maximum hiring charges for patient transport ambulance (PTA), basic life-support (BLS) ambulance and advanced life-support (ALS) ambulance for the first 10km and beyond for different classification of vehicles.
A normal PTA (Maruti Omni, Tata Magic or Maruti Eeco), whose cost is up to Rs 8 lakh, can charge a maximum of Rs 750 up to the first 10 km. A similar model ambulance with BLS facility can charge Rs 1,000 till the first 10 km. The government has fixed Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 for PTA and BLS ambulances, whose cost is between Rs 8 lakh and 10 lakh (Mahindra Bolero), for the first 10 km. Vehicles above Rs 10 lakh (Tata Winger, Force Traveller and Tata 407) used for normal PTA, BLS and ALS ambulances can charge Rs 1,250, Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 for the initial 10km of travel.
According to the government notification, the normal PTA can charge Rs 30 per kilometre beyond the first 10km and BLS as well as ALS ambulances can charge Rs 50 per kilometre exceeding the first 10km.
Many ambulance operators fleeced Covid patients and their attendants by charging anything between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 to take them to hospitals within 15-20km in Bhubaneswar. In some cases, a few ambulance operators charged anything between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 to bring patients from Dhenkanal, Nayagarh and Kenojhar to Bhubaneswar.
“The maximum rates include the charges of oxygen, ambulance equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) kit, gloves, mask, face shield, sanitiser, the driver and emergency medical technician (EMT). However, for any other medication (injectable/oral) in the ambulance, the additional cost would be charged as per actual by the operator,” transport secretary Madhu Sudan Padhi said.
“The notification said the charges of the ambulance services would be revised whenever fuel prices change in the state. The state transport commissioner has been authorized to issue the necessary orders for the revision of the charges of the on the basis of the increase/decrease in fuel prices. If any deviation from the order comes to our notice, we will register criminal cases against the violators,” a senior police officer warned.