Unauthorised patient pick-up, drop-off through private ambulances banned in Salem GHs

The Salem district administration has banned private ambulances from patients’ pick-up and drop-off at government hospitals in the district without permission.

Thousands of people from Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, and Kallakurichi districts visit the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (GMKMCH) every day, including individuals from other districts opting for emergency or surgery-related services. Meanwhile, allegations have been raised that private hospitals are targeting these patients through ambulance drivers who are allegedly convince the patients' relatives and take them to private hospitals.

In the event of these allegations, the Salem district administration has banned the service of private ambulances that pick up and drop off patients from all the government hospitals in the district, and instructed that private ambulances should not be parked on the premises of government hospitals.