Health Official Explains Ambulance Entry Ban

Telangana's Director of Public Health Dr G Srisnivas Rao today said that ambulances carrying Covid-19 patients from other states were not being stopped at the border indiscriminately.

Speaking to the media, he explained, "Ambulances are being allowed into the state after they get prior confirmation about bed availability from any hospital. The government does not intend to stop any emergency vehicles at the borders. The state's healthcare sector, however, is already overburdened due to the pandemic. The decision to regulate the entry of ambulances, therefore, has been taken to avoid any additional rush and panic. It will be a waste of time for the patients from other states as well if, after travelling so far, they cannot find beds."

"It is not at all our government's intention to deny treatment to people from other states. In fact, about 45% of all Covid-19 ICU beds have been given to patients from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Government hospitals have even reported that they have received patients from as far away as Delhi and Bihar. The orders issued on May 11 only ask patients and their attendants to get prior permission, through e-challans, before travelling to Telangana, and to make arrangements for beds beforehand so that an already-overburdened healthcare sector does not face any more rush. Those with the required permissions can contact a special call centre to get immediate clearance for entry. We are currently working on updating the information about bed and medicine availability for the convenience of Covid-19 patients," Rao added.

The senior official also pointed out that Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar had already written letters to the governments of other states informing them of the orders, and said that the TRS government was expecting patients from other states to cooperate with the same.