20 thousand signatures against ambulance privatization gathered in Penza
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Penza, 22 September 2016. PenzaNews. 20 thousand signatures against ambulance privatization are gathered in Penza on the initiative of the first secretary of the regional committee of the Communist Party, member of the Legislative Assembly Georgy Kamnev who stood up to protect the interests of residents.
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“Ambulance is as much a strategic service, as the army and the police. It should remain in the hands of the state,” the leader of Penza communists explained his position to PwnzaNews.
He reminded that the mandate to develop a corresponding reform was received by the Russian Ministry of Health in spring, and in summer, the department had to consider the possibility of transferring ambulance cars to commercial structures.
Georgy Kamnev added that in several pilot regions ambulance transport service was transferred to private owners.
“The private trader will seek to maximize their own profits, rather than save lives. The driver, who works at an ambulance station, as a rule, feels part of the team, he realizes that he helps to save lives. Often he works with the same team for years, knows the city, every street, the best and shortest routes. Drivers of private companies usually enter into short-term contracts, and the work can be regarded as more of a taxi service,” the agency interlocutor said.
At the same time, he stressed that the ambulance staff is banned to strike, and the driver-private trader may well not go to work, if dissatisfied with the terms of remuneration.
Georgy Kamnev noted that the transfer of the ambulance transportation function to commercial companies threatens disruption of the entire service, which has already happened in Perm, where the contractor change temporarily disorganized the work of three substations, since the new private owner was not ready to fulfill the commitments.
“Ambulance is the salvation of people. You cannot give this important function in the hands of a private owner, who would think of their profits, not human life and health,” the leader of the Penza communists concluded.
