Following the scam where the Khyati hospital was found to be placing stents without patients’ knowledge to take full advantage of the PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) scheme, the Gujarat government has now formulated a separate guideline for heart disease treatment under PMJAY.
The state health department has ordered that now, whenever angiography and angioplasty are performed, the hospital must provide a CD of the entire procedure to both the patient and the health department. Any hospital violating this rule will face action.
Furthermore, private hospitals have been ordered to adhere to these guidelines.
Until now, hospitals had cardiologists providing honorary services for angiography and angioplasty, but receiving a salary per operation. However, going forward, hospitals will be required to employ full-time cardiologists and vascular cardiology specialists.
The mastermind behind the scandal at the Khyati hospital, Dr Prashant Vajirani, was placing stents without patients’ proper knowledge, but now such practices will not be allowed.
Hospitals that perform angiography, angioplasty, or bypass surgeries will also be required to have modular cardiac operation theatres. Emergency approvals for procedures will no longer be granted automatically; they will only be approved after the reports, including the CD, are checked.
It is noteworthy that many patients do not need emergency approval, yet hospitals have been requesting urgent approvals. To curb this malpractice, new rules have been formulated.
The PMJAY scheme is also in the process of developing new guidelines for heart and other surgeries, which have already received approval from the central government.