“Locals demand inquiry into ambulance deployment, claiming healthcare services and emergency response have suffered significantly”
Bandipora, June 10: Residents of Ashtangoo in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have raised serious concerns over the prolonged absence of the 102 ambulance assigned to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Ashtangoo, alleging that the vehicle has been diverted for administrative and VIP-related duties, leaving thousands of people without dedicated emergency transport.
Residents, while speaking with the media, said that repeated requests to restore the ambulance to the PHC have gone unheeded despite growing public concern over the impact on patients requiring urgent medical care.
The New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) caters to more than a dozen villages with a combined population exceeding 30,000. Residents said the absence of the ambulance has forced patients, particularly the elderly, pregnant women and critically ill individuals, to rely on private transport during emergencies and night hours.
“We have been demanding the return of the ambulance for months, but nobody is listening. This ambulance was meant for patients, not for VIP movements. When an emergency occurs, families are left to arrange vehicles on their own,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Ashtangoo.
Another local, Mohammad Yousuf, said the situation becomes particularly difficult during the night. “The 108 ambulance service is not always available. Many times, we are told it is attending another patient. In medical emergencies, even a few minutes can make the difference between life and death.”
“Many staff members come almost an hour late and leave before duty hours end. We also don’t get medicines regularly, forcing poor patients to visit private clinics and spend money they cannot afford. It feels as if some employees treat the hospital like a college where attendance is optional. Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken,” the resident alleged.
Shabir Ahmad, a resident of a nearby village, alleged that healthcare services at the centre have deteriorated. “Apart from the ambulance issue, medical staff often arrive late in the morning and leave before official closing hours. Patients wait for hours while authorities continue to ignore our complaints.”
When contacted, PHC Ashtangoo In-charge Dr. Saboor confirmed that the 102 ambulance is presently stationed at the office of Block Medical Office (BMO) Bandipora and that the BMO is aware of its deployment.
Meanwhile, Block Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Tahir, said the ambulance is being utilised for block-level official duties and emergency department-related work, including accompanying official visits and facilitating VIP movements whenever required.
His remarks have triggered criticism among residents, who questioned the use of a patient transport ambulance for administrative purposes. Several locals alleged that despite the health department having other official vehicles, the ambulance remains unavailable for public healthcare needs.
Residents further claimed that while the 108 emergency ambulance service can be called when required, it is often engaged elsewhere. According to locals and patient attendants, there have been multiple instances when the 108 ambulance was already attending to another emergency, resulting in delays in shifting patients to higher medical facilities.
Adding to the concerns, residents alleged that another ambulance attached to the BMO office has remained parked at a workshop in Bandipora for repairs for an extended period, further straining emergency transport services in the area.
The issue has sparked widespread anger in the area, with residents demanding an independent inquiry into the deployment of ambulances and the functioning of healthcare services at PHC Ashtangoo.
They have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally look into the matter and ensure that the 102 ambulance is immediately restored to the health centre.
Residents said ambulances funded for public healthcare must remain available for patients at all times and should not be diverted for administrative or VIP-related assignments at the cost of emergency medical care. (KNS)
