Ambulance Crisis Grips East Singhbhum as 52% Fleet Lies Idle

Poor Maintenance and Staff Shortage Plague District’s Emergency Medical Services

Key Points:

• 11 out of 21 government ambulances in East Singhbhum non-operational due to neglect
• Private operators charging 7 times more than government ambulance rates
• Rs 2.47 crore spent on repairs, yet critical vehicles remain dysfunctional

JAMSHEDPUR – East Singhbhum’s emergency medical response faces severe challenges with over half of government ambulances non-operational.

The district’s ambulance fleet serves approximately 24 lakh residents. However, only ten vehicles remain functional currently.

Moreover, these operational vehicles lack permanent drivers. Seven drivers work on contract basis.

Critical Infrastructure Gaps

The Rs 1.6 crore cardiac ambulance at MGM Hospital stands abandoned. Its ventilator equipment is missing.

Meanwhile, private operators charge Rs 50 per kilometer. Government rates remain at Rs 7 per kilometer.

Furthermore, MGM Hospital has only three working ambulances out of six.

Maintenance Concerns

The district spent Rs 24,700 on average per ambulance repair. Ten vehicles needed fixes.

Nevertheless, maintenance issues persist across the fleet. Basic repairs remain pending.

“We are evaluating repair costs for the fleet,” says Dr. Shikha Rani, MGM Superintendent.

Future Plans

Officials promise swift action on repairs. The timeline appears optimistic.

Additionally, the district plans to address staff shortages. New hiring initiatives are underway.

In contrast, neighboring districts maintain better ambulance services. Their maintenance costs are lower.