Strict rules needed to curb charges for carrying stretchers

THE DRAFT OF A LOCAL regulation on pre-hospital emergency services in the capital encourages trained non-hospital staff to help put patients on stretchers if a patient is willing to pay for such a service. A Beijing News commentary lauds the capital's efforts to legislate the stretcher-carrying service, but calls for it to be strictly supervised:

Paying for the stretcher service is reasonable and understandable, because it requires that those involved have both the physical capability and knowledge of first aid. But as part of the pre-hospitalization emergency service, the stretcher service is at present basically monopolized, which might lead to patients having to pay exorbitant charges.

Therefore, it is important to apply strict rules to regulate the service should it become chargeable. The fee should be charged independently if it is no longer included in the pre-hospital treatment fees, and how the fee varies depending on the type of service provided needs to be made clear.