Gandhinagar — In a significant move, the Gujarat state government revealed on Monday that 49 hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) faced suspension over the last two years due to irregular practices.
During a session in the legislative assembly, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Praful Pansheriya, noted that while 20 of those suspensions have been lifted, 29 hospitals remain barred from admitting patients under this crucial health scheme.
The details emerged following inquiries about JCCC Hospital in Jamnagar. Pansheriya shared that this facility was fined ₹8.69 lakh for misuse of funds allocated through PM-JAY.
In a striking move against malpractice, Dr. Parth Vora from JCCC was suspended from performing surgeries covered by the scheme. His case is now with the Gujarat Medical Council for further review.
Reports indicated various grounds for suspension across multiple hospitals. Issues like inflated billing and unauthorized extra charges levied on patients were common complaints. Additionally, several facilities failed to meet infrastructure standards and admitted patients who didn’t qualify for treatment under PM-JAY’s guidelines.
This crackdown highlights ongoing efforts by the state to enforce stricter compliance with health service standards intended to protect vulnerable populations accessing healthcare services through government initiatives.