Amid pandemic, SC directs states to fix reasonable price for ambulance services

Guwahati: Expressing concern over ambulance providers demanding inflating charge for giving service to COVID-19 patients, the Supreme Court on Friday directed states across the nation to fix a reasonable price for ambulance services.

Hearing a petition seeking appropriate order or directions to increase the number of ambulance services for COVID-19 patients, a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that the states must ensure that the number of ambulances is sufficient to ferry patients.

Appearing for the Centre, the bench said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already issued the SOP in this regard and all states "will have to implement it".

The bench informed that states are bound by advisory already issued by the Central government to ensure this during this pandemic time, all State governments must ensure that there are enough ambulances available for coronavirus patients.

It also added that ambulances should be provided in each district to help Covid-19 patients reach hospitals.

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