New ambulance policy drafted to curb patient exploitation
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has drafted a new set of guidelines titled the “Ambulance or Hearse Freezer Van Service Policy-2025,” and already collected feedback from ministries.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President AHM Shafiquzzaman told Agamir Somoy, “At one time, government ambulances were in hospitals. But due to budget crises, lack of drivers, fuel, and various reasons, that service has almost stopped.
“Many ambulances lie abandoned in front of hospitals. Fire service ambulance service is also limited. As a result, the service has completely moved to the private sector. In most cases, private ambulance drivers hold those in distress hostage.”
The lack of transparency in pricing is a major hurdle, as Rakib Hossain, an ambulance driver stationed in front of the Neuroscience Hospital in Agargaon, told Agamir Somoy that they have no fixed fare and instead negotiate as much as possible.
While an unwritten rate exists for districts - such as a minimum of Tk 10,000 to go from Dhaka to Kurigram - drivers often try to collect more.
Although some drivers from Jashore denied holding patients hostage, claiming they sometimes only charge for fuel for poor patients, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges identified a critical gap in the “Road Transport Rules, 2022,” which lacks structural standards or essential equipment requirements for ambulances.
The new policy aims to establish a high-standard, service-oriented system for both ambulances and hearse freezer vans.
Under the draft policy, private ambulances are strictly prohibited from parking within government hospital premises and may only enter to pick up or drop off patients. Ambulance companies cannot be transferred, leased, or handed over via power of attorney to other individuals or entities without prior official authorization.
The policy bans the use of locally converted microbuses or vans as ambulances and mandates that drivers must not behave poorly with the relatives of patients.
Only air-conditioned motor vehicles specifically imported and taxed as ambulances can be used, while hearse freezer vans must maintain high refrigeration standards to properly preserve bodies. While private hospitals can register a limited number of ambulances for their own use, commercial operations must be conducted by registered companies or trade-licensed institutions.
According to Section 31(1) of the Road Transport Act-2018, the authorities can permit ambulances to operate without a route permit, but each service provider must own at least three ambulances and maintain their own parking garage.
The fare structure outlined in the draft policy is specific: for general ambulances within a metropolitan area, the maximum fare for the first two kilometers is Tk 1,200, with Tk 100 added for every subsequent kilometer.
Outside the metropolitan area, the first two kilometers will cost Tk 600, followed by Tk 40 per kilometer. For ICU and CCU ambulances, the metro fare starts at Tk 2,500 for the first two kilometers and Tk 150 per subsequent kilometer, while outside the metro, the base is Tk 2,000 with an Tk 80 per kilometer addition.
Hearse freezer vans will have a service charge of Tk 2,500 in the metro and Tk 3,000 outside, with per-kilometer rates of Tk 50 and Tk 40 respectively, plus a waiting charge of Tk 500 per hour if body preservation is required. Patients’ families will also bear all toll costs for roads or bridges.
Although the country has an estimated 6,000-8,000 ambulances, most are private, as government ambulances at Upazila Health Complexes and hospitals are frequently out of service.
