Ahmedabad, Nov 13 (NationPress) The health department of Gujarat has ramped up its efforts to penalize hospitals that breach the regulations of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana -- Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme. As a result, Jamnagar's JCC Heart Institute has been suspended from this initiative due to guideline violations and irregularities in cardiology and cardiovascular thoracic surgery practices.

The hospital has incurred a fine exceeding Rs 6 lakh for irregularities identified in 105 cardiac procedures. Furthermore, Dr. Parshv Vohra (G-28538) has been suspended immediately due to medical lapses related to cardiology and cardiovascular surgeries.

Health Minister Praful Pansheriya emphasized the government's dedication to providing transparent, accountable, and citizen-focused healthcare, asserting that PMJAY-MA is a “blessing for the underprivileged”, and that any malpractice will not be tolerated.

The investigation revealed that the hospital had manipulated laboratory and ECG reports in three instances to falsely indicate the necessity for cardiac procedures. A subsequent review at the state level of 262 cases uncovered inconsistencies in 53 cases, where cardiac procedures were conducted despite being medically unnecessary.

Additionally, during surprise inspections, violations were discovered at two other private hospitals. Sadbhaavna Hospital in Palanpur faced penalties for employing unempanelled doctors for surgeries, while Samanvay Hospital in Junagadh was fined for overcharging patients and offering higher-priced packages than allowed. Both facilities received fines of Rs 50,000 each and were issued stern warnings to adhere to the scheme's regulations.

Minister Pansheriya reiterated that the government aims to fortify Gujarat's healthcare system through transparency and accountability, with a strict stance against exploitation, ensuring that welfare schemes like PMJAY-MA genuinely benefit those in need.

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) serves as a primary health insurance initiative designed to provide cashless quality healthcare to economically disadvantaged segments of society. It covers poor and lower-middle-income families for significant medical and surgical treatments, including critical illnesses, via empanelled government and private hospitals.

Beneficiaries can claim up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, alleviating their financial burden. The scheme's core objective is to guarantee that no individual is deprived of treatment due to financial constraints, promoting equal access to healthcare and diminishing out-of-pocket medical expenses throughout Gujarat and India.