Ministry of Health Issues Stern Warning to Ambulance Drivers: Face Action for Steering Patients to Pricey Hospitals
Ambulance Drivers Warning Nepal
24th December 2025, Kathmandu
The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has issued a stern Ambulance drivers warning Nepal, cautioning against the practice of directing patients to expensive private hospitals for financial gain.
Ambulance Drivers Warning Nepal
This regulatory move comes amid increasing public complaints that some ambulance operators are exploiting vulnerable patients and accident victims. The government is now moving to enforce strict compliance with existing healthcare directives.
The MoHP explicitly stated that it is receiving numerous grievances. These complaints highlight ambulance drivers taking patients, often in critical condition, to specific private and costly medical facilities against the patient’s or their family’s wishes.
This practice is believed to be motivated by financial incentives offered by these expensive hospitals to the drivers. The government considers this conduct unacceptable, viewing it as an exploitation of people in distress.
Enforcing Directives and Transparency
The Ministry released an official notice on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to halt these activities immediately. These actions are a clear violation of the Ambulance Service Directive.
The directive mandates that services must prioritize patient well-being over economic gain. The official statement described the pursuit of “unwanted financial gain” from the sick and injured as a “deeply regrettable act.”
The Ministry is actively utilizing its digital communication channels to spread this critical message across the health sector.
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Ambulance drivers must strictly adhere to patient choice. The Ministry directs all operators to transport patients exclusively to the health institution they or their referring hospital have requested.
Any deviation from this instruction will be treated as a serious offense. This move aims to ensure transparency in patient care decisions and protect citizens from unnecessary financial burdens.
Severe Consequences for Violators
To enforce this order, the MoHP has warned that it will take disciplinary and punitive action against any ambulance driver found involved in such unethical practices.
The warning serves as a major alert to the transport sector. The ministry’s clear stance indicates a zero-tolerance policy for compromising patient care for economic kickbacks. This regulatory oversight is crucial for maintaining public trust in emergency health services.
This government intervention is a significant step toward reforming the emergency medical transport system in Nepal. By cracking down on profit-driven patient routing, the MoHP is reinforcing the principle that emergency services must be purely focused on saving lives and providing accessible care.
The public welcomes the government’s firm stance. They expect better ethical standards from essential service providers. The ultimate goal is to standardize the ambulance service and ensure that patients receive immediate and appropriate care without facing financial manipulation.
For more: Ambulance Drivers Warning Nepal
