Ambulance for KMCH turned into microbus for personal use

25 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

A brand new ambulance meant for carrying patients of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) is being used as a private vehicle of the director of Nucleus Medicine and Ultrasound Centre on the KMCH campus. Dr Ashok Kumar Pal, director of Nucleus Medicine and Ultrasound Centre, has allegedly changed the system and structure inside the ambulance to give it the shape of a microbus and suit it for his personal use. KMCH authorities received the ambulance from the government only four months ago. Dr Ashok keeps the ambulance-turned-microbus under his possession from noon till late hours of night everyday, said several officials and employees of the centre. He also receives fund from KMCH authorities to buy fuel for it, sources said. The vehicle is regularly seen at the car-parking shed of Sandhani Diagnostic Centre on Babu Khan Road in the city where Dr Ashok has a chamber for private medical practice. Asked whether the KMCH authorities are going to take any action regarding the misuse of hospital ambulance, KMCH Superintendent Dr Quazi Hamid Asgar said, "Although situated on the KMCH campus, Nucleus Medicine and Ultrasound Centre is under the energy ministry, not under the Ministry of Health. Only the ministry concerned can take action regarding the matter." When contacted, Dr Ashok Pal said he is not accountable to media to tell anything relating to his 'official and personal' matters. Asked about the matter, Idris Ali, driver of the vehicle, said he is not in a position to make any comment on the matter as he serves under the director.