A stormy debate unfolded in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly after the Opposition accused the state government of failing to rein in private hospitals allegedly misusing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme.
The controversy has intensified in the backdrop of the Khyati Hospital episode, where multiple patients reportedly died after being fitted with cardiac stents, triggering public outrage and political backlash.
Opposition Flags PMJAY Irregularities
Raising the matter in the House, Congress MLA Amit Chavda on Monday questioned the Health Department’s oversight of private hospitals empanelled under PMJAY. He alleged that several institutions were exploiting the scheme—originally designed to provide financial protection to economically weaker sections—while compromising patient health.
Chavda specifically cited the case of Jamnagar Critical Care Center (JCCC), where stents were allegedly implanted in patients without their knowledge. He charged that despite the seriousness of the allegations, the government had diluted its response and appeared reluctant to recover penalties from the hospital.
The Opposition maintained that strict criminal action should be initiated against doctors found guilty of malpractice and that administrative penalties alone were insufficient in cases involving patient safety.
Government Response in the House
Responding to the allegations, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel informed the Assembly that irregularities amounting to Rs 8.69 lakh were detected at JCCC Hospital in Jamnagar. A fine has been imposed on the hospital, he said. Additionally, Dr. Parshav Vohra has been suspended from the PMJAY scheme, and a letter has been sent to the Medical Council seeking further action against him.
The Minister also stated that the hospital’s cardiology and cardiovascular thoracic surgery departments have been suspended under the scheme.
However, the Opposition MLAs objected when the Minister began detailing PMJAY guidelines, arguing that the information was already publicly available online and did not address the core issue of accountability. They contended that irregularities were not limited to Jamnagar and suggested that the controversy had political ramifications as well.
The Opposition pressed for clarity on what corrective steps had been taken and alleged that the Health Department had not acted decisively enough to restore public trust. The exchange turned into a coordinated effort by Opposition members to corner the government over enforcement gaps within the flagship health insurance scheme.
49 Hospitals Suspended Under PMJAY
In his defense, the Health Minister claimed that the state had framed special post-scandal guidelines to strengthen scrutiny of treatments and claims under PMJAY. He informed the House that 49 hospitals had been suspended for violating scheme rules, with 29 of those suspensions still in force.
According to official data presented in the Assembly, Gujarat currently has 2.73 crore active Ayushman cards. Over the past two years, 57 lakh new cards have been issued. During this period, 27.55 lakh claims were approved from various hospitals, amounting to payments of Rs 7,235 crore.
The government argued that these figures demonstrate the scheme’s scale and impact, while asserting that action is being taken against errant institutions.
Khyati Hospital Tragedy: The Trigger Point
The debate over PMJAY irregularities has gained sharper focus following the controversy surrounding Khyati Hospital, where several patients allegedly died after undergoing cardiac procedures involving stent implantation.
In 2024, patients were fitted with heart stents under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, but questions later arose about whether the procedures were medically necessary. Families of the deceased claimed that patients were either not adequately informed or were persuaded into undergoing procedures without full disclosure.
The deaths sparked outrage, leading to investigations into whether financial incentives under the insurance scheme were driving unnecessary interventions. Allegations surfaced that hospitals might be prioritizing claim generation over patient welfare.
The Khyati Hospital episode has since become emblematic of broader concerns about regulatory oversight, ethical standards in private healthcare, and the monitoring of high-value procedures under PMJAY.
While talking to Vibes of India, Congress spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi alleged that the government has tried to protect those associated with Khyati Hospital. Just a fine is not acceptable when the hospital has ‘played with the lives of people’, he said, demanding stringent action against the accused. Several of the accused are out on bail.
Political and Policy Fallout
The Opposition has sought to link the Jamnagar stent case and the Khyati Hospital deaths, arguing that both point to systemic loopholes in monitoring empanelled hospitals. They contend that unless stricter enforcement and transparent audits are implemented, vulnerable patients will continue to bear the brunt of regulatory failures.
The government, meanwhile, maintains that erring hospitals are being penalized and that structural reforms are underway to prevent recurrence.
As the Assembly session continues, the Khyati Hospital tragedy and the alleged PMJAY irregularities have evolved into a significant political flashpoint—one that not only questions administrative accountability but also tests public confidence in a scheme meant to safeguard the health of the poor.
Also Read: A Year After Khyati Hospital Angioplasty Deaths, Justice Remains Elusive https://www.vibesofindia.com/a-year-after-khyati-hospital-angioplasty-deaths-justice-remains-elusive/
