Ambulances carrying patients and dead-bodies have been brought under hospital registration system, and unregistered ambulances will not be allowed to operate in the port-city from April 2.
The steps have been taken to safeguard people who are often held hostage by ambulance operators. These will also bring the ambulance service under discipline, so that the operators cannot make the people suffer by realising exorbitant and arbitrary charges from them.
It is done temporarily under a pilot project for three months, and the regulations will be finalized on the basis of experiences.
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor A J M Nasir Uddin said these at a press conference in his office on Thursday.
He said the steps regarding ambulance service for carrying patients and dead-bodies to and from hospitals in the port-city have been taken to make the service welfare-oriented.
Further steps to make the service more welfare-oriented for the people as well as business-friendly for the service providers will be included after the temporary period, he also said.
Under the rules, ambulances or transports owned by valid owners will have to be registered with the hospitals, and a control room will be set up at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Besides, serial number for freezer vans, air-conditioned and non-AC ambulances will be maintained, and all time parking of five such vehicles will be ensured at CMCH for providing emergency services.
However, the transports of Anjumane Mofidul Islam, CCC and other registered social service-oriented organizations will remain beyond the purview of the new rules.
The fares have been fixed at Tk 800 within 10 km including both up and down trips within the city for non-AC big ambulance and Tk 900 for AC freezers, Tk 1,200 for 20 km for non-AC ambulances and Tk 1,400 for AC and freezers, Tk 1,800 for 30 km for non-AC and Tk 1,900 for AC and freezers.
Fares for other destinations including Chittagong airport, three hill districts of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and other districts have also been fixed on hourly basis.
The press conference was also attended by Director of CMCH Brigadier General Md Jalal Uddin, Principal of Chittagong Medical College Professor Dr Selim Mohammed Jahangir, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Chittagong Unit General Secretary Dr Faisal Iqbal Chowdhury, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Md Shahidullah, Managing Editor of Daily Azadi Wahid Malek, and representatives of local ambulance operators.
