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Ahmedabad, Nov 13 (IANS) The Gujarat state health department has intensified its crackdown on hospitals violating norms under the government’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme.
As part of this ongoing action, JCC Heart Institute, Jamnagar has been suspended from the scheme for violation of guidelines and irregularities in cardiology and cardiovascular thoracic surgery procedures. A fine of over Rs 6 lakh has been imposed on the hospital after irregularities were found in 105 cardiac procedures, while Dr Parshwa Vohra (G-28538) has been suspended with immediate effect for medical lapses in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.
Health Minister Prafulla Pansheriya said the state government is committed to ensuring transparent, accountable and citizen-centric healthcare, adding that PMJAY-MA is a “blessing for the poor and needy” and any kind of malpractice or negligence will not be tolerated.
According to the investigation, the hospital manipulated laboratory and ECG reports in three cases to falsely show the need for cardiac procedures. Another state-level review of 262 cases revealed discrepancies in 53 cases where cardiac procedures were performed even when there was no medical need.
Apart from this, during surprise inspection, the health department also found irregularities in two other private hospitals. Sadbhavna Hospital in Palanpur was fined for conducting surgeries through unlisted doctors, and Samanvay Hospital in Junagadh was penalized for charging more and booking patients under higher priced packages than allowed. A fine of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on both the hospitals and a strict warning has been issued to adhere to the norms of the scheme.
Health Minister Pansheriya affirmed that the government’s mission is to strengthen Gujarat’s healthcare system through transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for exploitation, ensuring that public welfare schemes like PMJAY-MA truly serve those in need.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) is a flagship health insurance scheme that aims to provide cashless and quality healthcare to the economically weaker sections of the society. It covers poor and lower-middle income families for major medical and surgical treatment, including critical illnesses, through empaneled government and private hospitals.
Without worrying about the financial burden, beneficiaries can avail up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The objective of the scheme is to ensure that no person is denied treatment due to lack of money, promote equitable access to health care and reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses across Gujarat and the rest of India.
–IANS
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