Life-saving ambulances donated by India sit unused in Khulna due to manpower shortages, lack of spare parts, and fuel. This situation has left patients reliant on costly private ambulance services, leading to increased mortality rates.

According to doctors, approximately 70% of patients in Khulna are dying either en route to the hospital or at home due to the unavailability of modern, life-support ambulances.

One such ambulance provided to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in 2021 has remained idle, parked in the hospital garage.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) allocated six ambulances to hospitals in Khulna Division. However, these vehicles now require urgent repairs in Khulna, Satkhira, and Jessore.

Suhas Ranjan Halder, a resident medical officer at KMCH, highlighted the ambulance's lack of essential equipment, rendering it unable to provide emergency services effectively.

Dr. Md Manjurul Murshid, director of DGHS Khulna Division, expressed concern over the absence of repair and maintenance policies for these ambulances. This lack of policy guidance has made decision-making challenging, exacerbating the healthcare crisis.

Sheikh Baharul Alam, president of the Bangladesh Medical Association in Khulna, called for the formulation of necessary policies to address the ambulance and healthcare deficiencies in the region.