The only ambulance of Bandarban Sadar Hospital has been lying unrepaired for the last year as many of its parts have been damaged, causing patients suffering, particularly during emergencies.

Hospital sources said the government allotted the ambulance and a driver for the hospital around fourteen years ago. The ambulance used to transport around 60 patients a month, hospital sources said.

"Around 50,000 people of the upazila, mostly from poor families, totally depend on  that hospital. Patients have to suffer when they are referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in an emergency," said Kyaw Shwe Hla, chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council (BHDC).

"We informed the civil surgeon's office about the problem several times but they are yet to resolve it," said Prabir Chandra Banik, a resident medical officer of the hospital.

The government rate for using an ambulance is between Tk 3,000 and Tk 3,300 for travelling to Chittagong from Bandarban, while private hospitals charge up to Tk 7,500, hospital sources said. The government ambulance service is free for pregnant women.

Photo: Star

Among others, one Tapon Kanti Barua recently struggled to take his wife, who suffered a heart attack, to Chittagong Medical College Hospital because there was no ambulance service.

Dr Anup Dewan, civil surgeon of the hospital, said the entire health care service is facing problems due to unavailability of an ambulance, and their is no immediate solution.

Ambulances of the fire service unit and Bandarban Municipality have also been out of service for a long time as they are also damaged, officials of the two departments said.

Contacted, Ranodir Datto, the station master of Bandarban fire service unit, said "The only ambulance of the department has been out of service for a long time, and if any fire fighter is critically injured during his work it will be tough for us to carry him to a hospital."