When bureaucracy fails the public
By Ali Amiri
Staff writer
Last Thursday, in a bid to defend public rights, Tehran’s Prosecutor General visited the Iran Customs Administration’s warehouse in West Tehran and paved the way for the clearance of 27 ambulances that were deposited there for a long stretch of time.
Considering the country’s dire need for these ambulances, the customs office cooperated to provide the vehicles to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education to be used in helping patients.
According to IRNA, the ambulances, which were back then donated by international institutions to Iran, had been held in customs due to “a lack of order registration by the Health Ministry”.
This piece of news, although inherently positive, comes with a few negative implications. It is, first and foremost, deeply troubling that these ambulances were kept in warehouses for a long period of time instead of being utilized for their intended purposes. Why was there a need for order registration in the first place? Isn’t it obvious that an ambulance donated to the country is public property and should be cleared without any need for bureaucratic red tape?
The long delay in clearing and utilizing these ambulances has no doubt tampered with the country’s healthcare system and potentially compromised the availability and efficiency of emergency medical services. The piece of news serves as a prime example of when bureaucracy fails the public and shows its inhumane side.
Bureaucracy, although necessary and beneficial, turns inhumane and destructive when it lacks compassion, empathy, or consideration for the well-being and dignity of individuals and the public. Such cases result from a rigid, callous adherence to bureaucratic protocols without taking into account the unique circumstances, needs, or rights of the people involved.
In this case, the arbitrary decision regarding the ambulances and the unnecessary delay in their clearance proved to be a direct violation of public rights and an indicator that there is a need for bureaucratic reform in our country.