Service-seekers and stakeholders in Banke district have expressed their concern over the widespread misuse of the ambulances operated by various social organisations.

They grieve that the ambulance drivers charge arbitrarily, are not willing to provide service at night and in the remote places, and also carry passengers.

The number of ambulances currently operated by Red Cross Nepal in the district stands at six while 18 others are being run by different non-government organisations.

Red Cross, Banke Chief Niranjana Malla admitted that there have been cases of widespread misuse of the ambulances lately. She suggests reforms at policy level and professional integrity among the ambulances operators to tackle the misuse of the vehicles.

The District Ambulance Service Committee (DASC), which is to regulate the ambulance service, has not been able to tighten the noose against the wrongdoer ambulance operators or drivers, said Malla.

A recent incident on Wednesday in Banke unveiled that an ambulance registered in the name of former army organization was being used for smuggling goods from the bordering town in India.

The Armed Police Border Security Force had confiscated a total of 198 sets of clothes from the ambulance and the driver has already admitted of wrongdoing.

Malla assured that the ambulances will be under the scrutiny of the DASC and stringent action will be taken against those misusing ambulances. RSS