For many seeking medical treatment in the capital, the journey to Dhaka Medical comes fraught with financial burdens, particularly the exorbitant costs associated with ambulance services. Shockingly, it's revealed that 40 to 60 percent of the total treatment cost in government hospitals is attributed solely to transportation expenses. This insidious practice not only drains the finances of already-strained families but also exposes the collusion between hospital personnel and powerful circles. Abdul Wahid's plight epitomises the ordeal faced by countless others. Despite managing to scrape together funds for his wife's treatment, he finds himself unable to afford the steep ambulance fare, forcing them to resort to public transport in a dire twist of fate.
Similarly, Masud Rana, battling brain hemorrhage, finds the cost of transportation eclipsing the actual treatment expenses, painting a grim picture of the challenges faced by patients and their loved ones. The situation at Dhaka Medical College Hospital reflects a systemic issue plaguing government hospitals across the capital. Even patients undergoing complex surgeries such as neurosurgery and orthopedics find themselves burdened with exorbitant transportation costs, further exacerbating their already precarious circumstances. The activities of the Ambulance Syndicate become evident as ambulances, predominantly privately owned, monopolize the hospital premises. Patients and their relatives, desperate for transportation, are at the mercy of these syndicates, with government ambulances conspicuously absent from the scene. The syndicate's stranglehold extends to strict regulations prohibiting vehicles from outside the premises from providing return trips, leaving patients with no choice but to comply with their demands.
In a chilling revelation, an ambulance driver recounts how he was barred from returning in the ambulance after his patient's demise, underscoring the callous nature of the syndicate's operations. Despite attempts to expose their activities, the syndicate operates with impunity, with even hospital authorities acknowledging the futility of immediate measures in the face of their entrenched influence.
Brigadier General Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Asaduzzaman, acknowledges the persistence of the chaos but remains resolute in his efforts to restore order. However, experts assert that mere attempts at regulation are insufficient; concerted efforts to dismantle the syndicate and expand the reach of government ambulance services are imperative to alleviate the burden on patients.The Ambulance Syndicate's stranglehold over Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other government healthcare institutions epitomises a broader crisis within the healthcare system. Until decisive action is taken to break their grip and prioritize the welfare of patients, the cycle of exploitation and despair will continue unabated, casting a shadow over the very essence of medical care in Bangladesh.
ZH
