No lessons learnt: Another AMTS driver suffers heart attack on duty

Two drivers of the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) have suffered heart attack in the last three months while driving. This goes to suggest that the health check up camps of the

Two drivers of the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) have suffered heart attack in the last three months while driving. This goes to suggest that the health check up camps of the AMTS are not held regularly and seriously.

Even if any check up is done,it is probably just to complete the formality without any genuine concern either for the crew or the passengers. A driver had died of heart attack in October last year and one suffered an attack last week.

Officials,on their part,said they have come to an agreement with the V S Hospital about medical check up of AMTS and private operators drivers in batches.

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Nearly 10 drivers are reported unfit for heavy duty,like driving, said deputy municipal commissioner M S Patel.

He further said that heart diseases cannot be detected at check up camps and that one would get to know of

it only when one suffers an attack.

Interestingly,V S Hospital superintendent Dr M H Makwana said no such agreement was signed with the AMTS.

He said the AMTS might be getting health check up done from somewhere else. A fund has been raised,which meets angiographies and angioplasty expenses of their staff,Dr Makwana added.

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When pointed out that drivers dreaded check up due to fear of being declared unfit for duty,Patel said that on the contrary,some drivers would manage to get a medical certificate of being physically unfit and on the basis of that,they would seek light duty.

A retired bus driver said on condition of anonymity that he was declared unfit for driving despite his eyesight being fine at the time of check up.

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