Parking of pvt ambulances on MMCH premises continues

Parking of private ambulances on the premises of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) has been going on for over two months, causing trouble for patients and their attendants.

The MMCH authorities are indifferent to the nuisance though the Daily Star carried a report on it last month.

Private ambulances were kept on both sides of the road in front of MMCH for years, but the hospital authorities had failed to clear the road, sources said.

The private ambulance drivers started keeping the vehicles on MMCH premises because of construction work of Charpara Road in the hospital area, said MMCH staff.  Though the construction work of the road is almost complete, parking on the premises is yet to be stopped, they said.

During a visit to MMCH on Monday, this correspondent found some 50 ambulances on its premises. The hospital authorities can remove the vehicles at any time but why they are not taking steps is best known to them, some hospital staff said.

It was also alleged that, with blessings from a section of hospital officials, some MMCH employees and the on-duty policemen take money from the ambulance drivers for giving them parking facility on the hospital premises.

Repeating his earlier comments, MMCH Director Brig Gen Fasiur Rahman said he never allows such parking but ambulance drivers might be keeping the vehicles on the premises in his absence.

Dr Motiur Rahman Bhuiyan, secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association's Mymensingh unit, said they have urged the MMCH authorities to take steps to remove the vehicles, but to no effect yet.

Parking of private vehicles at an important place is illegal and a serious disturbance to the patients, their attendants and hospital staff as well, said the BMA leader.