15 Gujarat Hospitals Suspended under PMJAY over Irregularities
Ahmedabad: In a bid to address irregularities within the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the Health Department has suspended 15 hospitals from the scheme following a detailed
investigation by the State Anti-Fraud Unit. The inquiry revealed several violations, including inadequate medical facilities and fraudulent claims.
The scrutiny intensified after irregularities were first detected at
Khyati Hospital in Ahmedabad, leading to a broader investigation that exposed
similar issues across several hospitals.
Investigators found that
many of these hospitals failed to meet the required PMJAY standards, with some
lacking essential ICU equipment and others manipulating maternity treatment
rates and insurance claims. The list of suspended hospitals includes gynaecology
centres, paediatric hospitals, and multi-specialty clinics spread across
various districts, including Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Mehsana, and Tapi.
Since the scheme was launched 5 years ago, the
SHA (State Health Agency) has been manually managing the PM-JAY operations and
monitoring over 36 crore Ayushman cards and as many as nearly 7 crore hospital
admissions. But after the recent deaths of two patients at Khyati Multi
Specialty Hospital, a thorough investigation was launched. The licenses of 12
doctors named in these fraudulent activities were cancelled by the Gujarat
Medical Council.
Despite the crackdown, a
Class One Government Medical Officer implicated in the Khyati Hospital scam remains unsuspended. He was arrested after a police investigation revealed that
he had approved PMJAY cards for ineligible patients in exchange for monetary
benefits. While action has been taken against hospitals involved in fraudulent
activities, the health department has yet to announce any disciplinary measures
against the said doctor, reports Ahmedabad Mirror.
The recently
suspended hospitals under the PMJAY scheme include Ved Hospital in Kheda, RN
Wala Smarak Trust Hospital in Gir Somnath, Modi Children Hospital in Kakrapar,
Modi Children Hospital in Tapi, Olympus Hospital under Tanna Health Care in
Rajkot, and Anahat Heart Institute & Specialty Hospital in Mehsana, all of
which offer multi-specialty services.
Several other hospitals that have well-known gynaecology departments are also suspended, including Chitra Medical Center in Bhavnagar, Ghanchi
Arogya Mandal in Aravalli, Parivar General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Sabiha
Sarvajanik Hospital in Botad, Sad Vichar Jan Hospital Nursing Home in
Bhavnagar, Pulse Plus Multi Hospital (Somnath Health Care Group) in Bhavnagar,
Navjivan Hospital in Amreli, and Kalrav Hospital in Amreli. Additionally, Shifa
Multispeciality Hospital in Ahmedabad, which specializes in pediatric medical
management and neonatal care, has also been among those suspended, reports the Daily.
