Five hospitals in Gujarat have been suspended from the list of authorised healthcare providers under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme following a series of irregularities discovered during inspections. Two of these hospitals are based in Patan, with one each from Ahmedabad, Dahod and Aravalli. Alongside the suspensions of these hospitals, two doctors have also been removed from the list of medical professionals permitted to offer services under the scheme.
The suspensions followed thorough inspections by the State Anti-Fraud Unit (SAFU), in collaboration with expert medical teams, which uncovered multiple instances of fraudulent activities linked to the hospitals. The scrutiny is also because of the deaths of PM-JAY beneficiaries at Ahmedabad-based Khyati Multispeciality Hospital last month.
Five Hospitals and Two Doctors Suspended
In Patan, Hir Children’s Hospital and Nishka Children’s Hospital & Neonatal Care were found to have engaged in various forms of malpractice. At Hir Children’s Hospital, 91 lab reports were altered and higher-cost packages were selected without proper justification. This led to the suspension of both the hospital and Dr Hiren Patel from the PM-JAY scheme.
Furthermore, Health Spring 24 Pathology Laboratory, associated with the hospital, was also suspended and the hospital was fined Rs 50,27,700, covering both recovery and penalties.
Similarly, Nishka Children’s Hospital was found to have tampered with 60 reports. The hospital’s associated laboratory failed to provide patients with their reports upon request. As a result, the hospital and Dr Divyesh Shah were suspended and Shiv Diagnostic Laboratory was penalised, with a total fine of Rs 15,16,350 imposed on the involved parties.
In Dahod, Sonal Hospital was suspended for failing to meet essential guidelines regarding manpower, infrastructure and infection control protocols. The suspension remains in place until the hospital addresses these deficiencies.
Sentara Multispeciality Hospital in Ahmedabad was found to be operating without Building Use (BU) permission for certain floors and in violation of staff and equipment requirements. Additionally, the hospital was storing expired medicines. The suspension of the hospital will continue until it rectifies these issues and meets the necessary standards.
In Aravalli, Shri Jalaram Children’s Hospital was found to be operating with an expired fire safety certificate and inadequate neonatal ICU facilities. The hospital has been suspended until it obtains the required fire safety certification and addresses the other critical issues.
The authorities have urged hospitals to take necessary corrective actions to avoid further penalties.
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