SC asks State Govt to fix reasonable charges for ambulance services

The Government of India in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis had formulated India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Awareness Package and an SOP on 29th March 2020. The bench in this case noted that all the states were obligated to follow the SOPs and take respective measures vis-a-vis augmenting the capacity of the ambulance. The Bench additionally also noted that the petitioner correctly pointed out that the SOP lacked direction with regards to the pricing of the ambulance. To this, the bench directed the State Govt to fix a reasonable charge and all providers shall provide on that charge.

The petitioner, an NGO named ‘Earth’ even sought intervention in Court’s direction to Centre and States for invocation of Section 63 and 65 of the Disaster Management Act for requisition of more ambulances for transportation of COVID and Non-COVID bodies. It was contended by the President of the NGO that there has been an acute shortage and mismanagement of ambulance all across the countries. The plea called for "centralized mechanism and/or operation centers” and a dire need to convert public transport and private ambulance into a pubic ambulance in order to facilitate the needs of the people. Further, it was stated that in the light of the growing number of cases every day and the despite SOPs issued by the Directorate General of Health Services, the states have failed to fill gaps in ambulance services. The plea brought to attention before the court that the ambulances have been charging exorbitant rates in the name of PPE kits worn by health care workers.

The plea highlighted innovative steps taken by the Government of Haryana and Tamil Nadu where the former collaborated with OLA cab services and the latter appointed of district coordinators. The petitioner thus sought through this petition that the center must invoke its power under Section 65 of the DMA Act which stated about requisition of resources, vehicles, etc. The Petition even sought for fixation of rates chargeable per km.