Tura Civil Hospital defends parking fee system

SHILLONG: With none of the hospitals in the State charging parking fees, Tura Civil Hospital has created an unusual trend by collecting parking fees from vehicles which are parked inside the hospital.
The matter was even raised by South Tura legislator John Leslee K Sangma in the Assembly on Friday.
Sangma has strongly objected to the decision of the hospital authorities to collect parking fees from vehicles.
‘I am also surprised since none of the hospitals in the State include private hospitals are collecting parking fees. I will like to know what is the speciality of the Tura Civil Hospital for collecting of the parking fees,” Sangma said.  He also said that this decision is an added burden to the poor people who come from the far flung areas for treatment.
“I do not see any kind of justification to collect the parking fees when none of the hospitals are following this unfriendly practice,” South Tura legislator said.
While reacting to this matter brought up by the legislator, official sources said that Tura is the only referral hospital in the entire Garo Hills region and patients from adjoining Assam also throng the hospital for treatment.
‘On many occasions, ambulance carrying terminally ill patients to the hospitals are obstructed by random parking of private vehicles blocking the ambulances thereby endangering precious human life. The Hospital with limited manpower is unable to check and regulate traffic,” official sources said.
In order to decongest traffic in the hospital as well as to check unwanted and unidentified parking of private vehicles, official sources said that the management of hospital was considered important by the authority in the hospital campus.
“As a step in this direction, the hospital has decided to lease out to a private party  to manage and look after the traffic problems by the system of collection of parking fees,” official sources added.