ANANTNAG (Raouf Dar) — In response to news published on Kashmir Independent Media Service – KIMS that the ‘private vehicles are being misused as ambulances’, the administration in Anantnag district of South Kashmir directed private hospitals to ‘abstain from using private vehicles as ambulances’.
The administration also directed private hospitals to register their vehicles on priority basis.
“Private Hospitals are hereby directed to register their vehicles as Ambulances on top priority basis. It is as such enjoined upon all the Private Hospitals who are plying such vehicles as Ambulances shall abstain from doing so with immediate effect till proper registration of the vehicles as Ambulances, reads a circular, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Independent Media Service – KIMS.
The issue came to the notice of district administration Anantnag after Kashmir Independent Media Service – KIMS reported that most of the private hospitals/diagnostic centers are using private vehicles without registration as Ambulances, thereby violating the Rule 125 of the Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicles Act.
Earlier, Kashmir Independent Media Service – KIMS had reported that nine private hospitals including Amal Hospital Mominabad, Bone and Joint Hospital Harnag, Al-Hayat Hospital Janglat Mandi, Mid City Hospital Nai Basti, Apex Hospital GBS Anantnag, South City Hospital Anantnag, City Hospital, Jasco Hospital and SKJ Hospital in Sarnal area of Anantnag district lack proper ambulance service and are violating the Motor Vehicles Act by using manually modified private vehicles as ambulances.
Officials said, the using of private vehicle as ambulance is an offence. There is certain procedure to use an ambulance that needs No Certificate (NOC) from Directorate of Health Services (DHSK), Kashmir.
The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, S. F. Hamid had said that he will look into the matter and had directed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag to submit a detailed report in the regard and action shall be taken against the violators as per the relevant rules of law. — (KIMS)