Last Updated on August 5, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Mohammadia Nursing Home in Pulwama and Florence Hospital of Srinagar were each fined Rs. 5.81 lakhs and Rs. 4.98 lakhs, respectively, by the State Health Agency (SHA) of J&K for engaging in various fraudulent activities.
The primary reasons for action against these healthcare organisations were their failure to follow the minimal requirements for empanelment, maintain the quality/service standards outlined in the AB-PMJAY-SEHAT plan, and accept unlawful cash payments from beneficiaries. Similar actions were previously taken by SHA J&K against the Ibn Sena Hospital in Budgam, the Quality Healthcare Hospital in Kupwara, the Ess Bee Hospital in Kupwara, the North Kashmir Hospital in Handwara, the Waseem Memorial Hospital in Handwara, and the Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital in Katra. These hospitals were penalised a total of Rs. 44.6 Lakhs.
The fraud under AB-PMJAY-SEHAT has a much bigger impact on people’s health than just money losses. The goal of AB-PMJAY-SEHAT is to create a culture of anti-fraud that permeates every area of the scheme’s governance. Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility, Independence, and Reasonability are some of the guiding principles of anti-fraud operations.
The Government of J&K has adopted a zero-tolerance approach when dealing with instances of fraud and abuse under the ABPMJAY-SEHAT scheme, Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education Manoj Kumar Diwedi noted recently in a review meeting of the programme. He also emphasised that strict action will be taken against the hospitals and physicians involved in any type of errant or fraudulent activities under the programme.
