Mysuru: Ambulances blaring with sirens and driven at breakneck speed has become a common sight in all metro and tier two cities. The Government has also come forward in providing free ambulance service under the Arogya Kavacha scheme — popularly known as 108 ambulances. Later, a facility Nagu-Magu ambulance, was also introduced, to provide drop-back facility for post-natal mothers and new born from Government health facilities to their residence.  

The intention of the Government is always good but how good are the people entrusted with the responsibility of using or providing the facility. Here is a classic case of misuse of as serious a facility as the ambulance meant only for emergency service.

The pharmacist Beula of the Government Primary Health Centre, ICTC Lakshmidevamma Shankar Shetty Maternity Hospital in VV Puram, it is learnt, was celebrating the wedding of her daughter at a private resort on Metagalli road. The doctors and the staff of the hospital, it is learnt used the Nagu-Magu ambulance, KA 09 G 730, at their disposal for attending the wedding. Not only did they use it but it is said that they returned in the same ambulance using  siren meant only for emergencies, violating the rules of ambulance usage.

It is said that Administrative Officer of the hospital Malathi had given permission to use the ambulance. At this time for nearly three hours except the patients there was no staff in the hospital. A few of the patients who brought the issue to the notice of Star of Mysore said that there was no one to attend to the patients in case of emergencies. The ambulance meant to drop the post-natal mothers, 48 hours after the delivery to their residence, being misused, has caused resentment among the public.   

Meanwhile, District Health Officer Dr. B. Basavaraju speaking to Star of Mysore said, “I do not have any information about the Government ambulance service Nagu-Magu being used to attend wedding function. If it comes to my notice I will take serious action against them.”