The Salem district administration has banned private ambulances from patients’ pick-up and drop-off at government hospitals in the district without permission.
Thousands of people from Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, and Kallakurichi districts visit the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (GMKMCH) every day, including individuals from other districts opting for emergency or surgery-related services. Meanwhile, allegations have been raised that private hospitals are targeting these patients through ambulance drivers who are allegedly convince the patients' relatives and take them to private hospitals.
In the event of these allegations, the Salem district administration has banned the service of private ambulances that pick up and drop off patients from all the government hospitals in the district, and instructed that private ambulances should not be parked on the premises of government hospitals.
The Salem district Collector K. Elambahavath said that all private hospitals should park their ambulances on their hospital premises or in nearby localities. There is no authorisation for drop and pick-up of patients by private ambulances at government hospitals. Instructions are given to doctors to prevent admitting patients to private hospitals from government hospitals through third parties, private ambulance drivers, mediators, or agents. Stern action will be taken against unregistered ambulances and ambulances operating without eligible paramedical personnel, the Collector warned.
In a move to streamline the entry and exit of ambulances in GMKMCH, and to prevent shifting of patients without permission, adequate police personnel will be deployed at the Salem Government Hospital outpost police station. Legal action will be taken against the persons who are acting against the instructions given by the district administration, the Collector added.
Published - July 13, 2026 07:20 pm IST