Small services raise charges to cover rising costs, while Edhi, Chhipa absorb higher fuel expenses for now
KARACHI:
Several welfare organisations providing local, intercity and interprovincial ambulance services have increased their service charges by 10 to 30 per cent following the recent hike in petroleum prices, operators said on Thursday.
However, major charities, including the Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Welfare Association, have not yet raised their ambulance fares and are currently absorbing the additional fuel costs. Officials said the surge in petrol and diesel prices has increased their fuel budgets by nearly 25 to 30 per cent.
Iqbal Hussain, administrator of a private welfare ambulance service operating outside Karachi’s JPMC, said the increase in petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre in the wake of military conflict in the Middle East had significantly raised operating costs for smaller rescue organisations.
“As a result, ambulance charges for services within the city have been increased by about 10 per cent, intercity services by 15 per cent, and interprovincial services by 20 per cent,” he said.
According to him, ambulance fares within Karachi have risen by Rs150 to Rs300, while intercity ambulance charges have increased by Rs500 to Rs1,500. Meanwhile, interprovincial ambulance services have become Rs2,000 to Rs4,000 more expensive.
He said fares for intercity and interprovincial ambulance services are generally calculated on a per-kilometre basis, and the recent increase reflects the rise in fuel prices.
“The charges depend on the distance travelled, and the fare has been adjusted in line with the Rs55 per litre increase in petrol and diesel,” he said, adding that the rates could be reduced if petroleum prices fall.
He further said that intercity and interprovincial ambulance services are commonly used to transport patients and deceased persons between cities.
Tasleemuddin, who accompanied his mother from Sukkur to Karachi for treatment, said the recent increase had significantly raised travel costs. “My mother is a heart patient and we bring her to a private hospital in Karachi for check-ups every two months. Earlier the ambulance fare was around Rs25,000, but it has now increased to Rs28,000,” he said, adding that despite the higher charges they had no choice but to pay.
Asif Shah, a resident of Keamari, said he recently brought his father to a private hospital due to kidney complications. “The ambulance service outside the hospital charged Rs1,200, whereas earlier the same trip cost Rs1,000,” he said.
Chhipa spokesperson Chaudhry Shahid Hussain said there were over 1,600 government and private ambulances operating in Karachi, of which around 20 per cent were used for intercity and interprovincial services. He said each ambulance consumes around 30 litres of fuel daily, resulting in an increase of more than 10 per cent, or roughly Rs1,500, in daily fuel expenses per vehicle.
While Chhipa is currently absorbing the additional costs, he said smaller ambulance operators may find it difficult to continue doing so. If fuel prices rise further, larger welfare organisations may also be compelled to review their service charges, he added.
Officials of the Edhi Foundation said the organisation’s ambulance budget had been affected by the fuel price increase but it had not yet raised its service charges.
