Ranchi, April 22: The Sadar hospital here has six ambulances parked on its premises but they cannot be utilised to their potential when the authorities want to pick up or drop patients. Courtesy, scarcity of drivers.

The hospital has at its disposal three drivers. Four others were also deputed to the hospital but they are now on VIP duty.

Three of these four are posted at the chief minister’s residence to drive vehicles in his convoy. The other one has been deputed to Raj Bhavan to perform similar duties.

Sources in Sadar hospital said they often fail to provide the ambulance service to patients.

“Patients coming from rural areas often demand an ambulance to take the patient back after treatment. But we are unable to fulfil their demand as there is an acute shortage of drivers,” said a hospital staff.

Besides, the hospital authorities are forced to send patients, medicines and staff in one vehicle. In a recent report, the Comptroller and Auditor General castigated the state government for misusing ambulances. It pointed out that the ambulances were used more for administrative purpose than to transport patients.

With such acute shortage of drivers, the staff at the Sadar hospital has started questioning the logic in deputing four drivers on VIP duty.

“The government should hire drivers independently for VIP duties. There is no reason why four drivers from the hospital should be engaged in such work,” said a functionary of the hospital.

In a recent meeting, several civil surgeons had told health minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi that the shortage of ambulance drivers needs to be tackled. The civil surgeons said the number of vehicles outnumbered the available number of drivers in most of the districts.

“For recruitment of drivers, each district has a hospital management society. No driver can be appointed on contract without the permission of this body,” said a civil surgeon.

“However, these societies meet irregularly and no civil surgeon would take the risk of appointing drivers without the consent of the society. The health department must look into the issue.”

The health minister said he has issued orders to all districts to appoint the required number of ambulance drivers on contract by May 15.