Mohali District Magistrate Girish Dayalan has capped the rates of ambulances ferrying Covid patients in order to save the residents from overcharging.
The orders issued in this regard state that during the Covid-19, the patients need to be taken to the hospitals by ambulances for emergency treatment. Sometimes, higher rates are charged by the ambulance owners. Therefore, it is pertinent to fix the ambulance charges.
The Regional Transport Authority, Mohali, discussed the matter with the representatives of Ambulance Union, Mohali, and as per the consensus, charges of ambulances have been fixed in public interest.
As per the orders, the charges for an ambulance without oxygen has been fixed at Rs 1,000 for 25 km, thereafter Rs 10 per km and Rs 100 per hour for waiting more than half an hour.
Similarly, for an ambulance with oxygen up to 25 km, Rs 1,500 has been fixed, thereafter Rs 12 per km and for waiting for more than half an hour, charges are Rs 150 per hour.
In addition to this, rate for an ambulance with ventilator facility has been fixed at Rs 3,000 for 25 km, thereafter at Rs 15 per km and for waiting for more than half an hour Rs 250 per hour are to be charged.
The breach of orders invites action as per law including legal action against owner/driver of ambulance, including cancellation of License of the ambulance driver, cancellation of Registration Certificate (RC) of the ambulance and impounding of vehicle.
Mohali DC has also constituted a high-level committee for resolution of Covid-19 complaints. The committee comprises five members including DC himself, who will be the chairperson. SSP, Civil Surgeon, a MC Representative and the Secretary of District Legal Services Authority are the four members of the committee, said the DC.
Girish Dayalan said, “I will look into all COVID related complaints and make surprise checks also.”
The contact numbers of the DC and other four members have been shared: DC (0172-2219500), SSP (0172-2219211), Civil Surgeon (0172-2226343), MC Representative (0172-5044911) and Secretary of District Legal Services Authority (0172-2219170).
