KARACHI, March 18: Due to apathy of authorities concerned, three ambulances of the Sindh Government Services Hospital have been out of order for last three years causing immense hardships in shifting patients from one place to other for different tests and treatment.

Official sources in the SGSH told PPI that the hospital, catering to the medical needs of thousands of provincial government's employees working in different institutions, had total six ambulances, of which three- EX-3788, EX-9896 and EX-3360- were out of order for the last three years.

According to the sources, engine of EX-3788 had some major fault, however, EX-9896 and EX-3360 had minor faults when these ambulances were dumped. Although three vans were functional, but only one was being used for patients, while the other had been reserved for VVIP duty and one ambulance was being used as staff van, the sources said.

The hospital administration kept the out of order ambulances polished, with air filled in their tires, to show them in working condition in case of any sudden visit of high-ups, the sources added.

When SGSH Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Taufeeq Chaudhry was contacted, he said that engines of all three out of order ambulances had been seized and needed proper repairs, which would cost around Rs75,000 in each case, while the total sanctioned annual budget for maintenance of ambulances was Rs28,400, including that for the ambulance being used by Sindh Secretariat dispensary.

Dr Taufeeq said that the hospital received vehicles' maintenance budget in two instalments and was not allowed to use the whole budget at once, making maintenance of the ambulances difficult.

He said that government had been requested in writing to give the hospital two Rs200,000 urgently for the repairs of ambulances and to increase annual maintenance budget to Rs80,000. "We have also requested for two more ambulances for the hospital and health authorities have assured us to fulfil our demands in next budget," he added. -PPI