The Mela health department has demanded 40 ambulances from the State health department to cope up with exigency but even after 3 days of the Mela starting, not a single vehicle has reached the Mela zone. Only ten days are left for the first snan of the Ardh Kumbh Mela which is expected to foresee lakhs of devotees for the holy dip from various parts of the country. On the call of the Mela health officer various private hospitals have assured assistance in the form of cardiologists, doctors and ambulance services as and when needed during the Mela.
The delay in ambulance would cumbersome the process of bringing patients from the Mela zone to the base hospitals and make shift temporary hospitals. Based on the 34 sectors of the mela zone, the Ardh Kumbh health department has divided the Mela zone and the number of ambulance demanded are in accordance to this sector division. Temporary hospitals and primary treatment centres have been planned for this Ardh Kumbh Mela but without the doctors and ambulance facilities these stand meaningless.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Mela Health officer Dr B S Janpangi said, “Haridwar district has 7 ambulances in three of its hospitals – Mela, Mahila and G D hospital. They are already engaged so we had asked for 40 ambulances from the state health department but not a single ambulance has been made available till date. Discussions are on with the senior officials on the same issue.”
Notably not only for the pilgrims but even for the VIP duties, ambulances are engaged.
Slowly the doctors have started pouring in and joining the duties. Out of 84 doctors demanded, 19 joined on Sunday and 25 Pharmacists are expected within two days. Regarding Cardiologists, Janpangi said, “There was no point in demanding cardiologists since the whole state is reeling under scarcity of specialists. We have lined up with Private hospitals and Metro hospital has agreed to give cardiologists and ambulance to us on demand on urgent basis. They have also assured for providing doctors during exigency.” The hiring of private facilities is a costly affair since they demand market rate but the health department seems to be oblivious and unconcerned on the issue.