One out of the nine outdated ambulances of Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, has been taken away by the anti-encroachment cell of Larkana Municipal Corporation, and eight are working in the largest tertiary care hospital of rural Sindh, Daily Times learnt on Saturday. Out of eight ambulances, only two are alleged to be fit to travel to Karachi, but without any guarantee as to whether they will reach their destination or break down in the middle, as the vehicles are over 18 years old. Ambulances made by the automobile company ‘Mercedes’ were supplied to the CMCH in 2004 for the movement of very very important persons (VVIPs), and lastly three ambulances were provided in 2011-12, 18 years ago. The remaining six ambulances are used for shifting poor patients from one block of the hospital to another, including emergency patients who are in need of surgeries, as CMCH is spread around five different places of the city. “I shifted my daughter to Karachi through a private ambulance which charged me Rs 13,000 whereas the cost of a CMCH ambulance is between Rs 18,000 to 19, 000,” said CMCH Transport Section in Charge Head Driver Ali Sher Mirani. Influential private ambulance owners have parked their vehicles inside the Civil Hospital Block, which has been forbidden by the health department. Since there’s no check on them, they are doing a roaring business, said citizens. Some media reports had claimed on September 17, that the Sindh Health Department had 700 ambulances of the latest models allocated to different hospitals for the transportation of critically sick patients, said Sindh, Hyderabad Health Services Director General (DG) Dr Masood Solangi, in a clarification, issued on September 17, 2019. Each vehicle is properly documented, has the required drivers and other trained staff, and the necessary equipment, including the provision of uninterrupted oxygen supply, maintenance of record of movement and under strict vigilance, he added. Their POL and repair budgets are duly provided to the concerned medical superintendents and consumption audited accordingly, Solangi said. 188 vehicles are stationed for minor repair and maintenance works, the DG confessed. They will be on the road without any delay. Ambulances are never allowed and/or used for purposes other than the prescribed jobs, he claimed. No official is allotted any hospital ambulance for routine movement. The Sindh Health Department has its own network, which are vigilant about the proper working of ambulances. Furthermore, it was also clarified that ambulance services at all hospitals were provided free of cost. Thousands of patients are being transported inside hospitals and out of heath facilities daily, without charging them any amount, he said. Dr Solangi had termed media reports ‘contrary to our services are preconceived, fabricated and based on speculations,’ but ground facts negate his tall claims.