THE GREAT HIMALAYAN HOSPITAL HOAX
News item in Sunday Times, 11 August 2019
“Several Fraud Cases Under Centre’s Ayushman Scheme Emerge In Uttarakhand, Hospitals Use Bizarre Ways To Siphon Off Funds
About a year after introduction of the Ayushman Bharat scheme — the Union government’s programme for providing health protection cover to around 10 crore vulnerable families — truant doctors and hospitals in the tiny Himalayan state of Uttarakhand have come up with some of the most innovative ways of scamming the ambitious plan for a quick buck. Not that they haven’t been caught. But the string of frauds has put officials on a state of perpetual alert.
Private hospitals have been accused of siphoning almost Rs 1.20 crore of public funds in just a few months. And they seem to have done it in bizarre ways — from showing surgeries being conducted on patients who had actually been discharged days ago, to dialysis shown as having been performed in a facility where there was no kidney specialist.”
If this is happening in one State then it can happen in other States also. Our citizens are really smart to take advantage of any welfare scheme.
We hope strict action will be taken against these doctors and hospitals. The process for claiming money under Ayushman Bharat Scheme needs to be modified.
“Several Fraud Cases Under Centre’s Ayushman Scheme Emerge In Uttarakhand, Hospitals Use Bizarre Ways To Siphon Off Funds
About a year after introduction of the Ayushman Bharat scheme — the Union government’s programme for providing health protection cover to around 10 crore vulnerable families — truant doctors and hospitals in the tiny Himalayan state of Uttarakhand have come up with some of the most innovative ways of scamming the ambitious plan for a quick buck. Not that they haven’t been caught. But the string of frauds has put officials on a state of perpetual alert.
Private hospitals have been accused of siphoning almost Rs 1.20 crore of public funds in just a few months. And they seem to have done it in bizarre ways — from showing surgeries being conducted on patients who had actually been discharged days ago, to dialysis shown as having been performed in a facility where there was no kidney specialist.”
If this is happening in one State then it can happen in other States also. Our citizens are really smart to take advantage of any welfare scheme.
We hope strict action will be taken against these doctors and hospitals. The process for claiming money under Ayushman Bharat Scheme needs to be modified.
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If the government is sincere in the implementation and monitoring, all such frauds can be caught. If the hospitals are seized and the officials/ddocotrs are dismissed on the spot, then there will be fear of violating the law. Such actions will immediately reach the culprits and they will stop. There is no fear of law and so such frauds.
Aug 13
Dear Dr. Mohit Pande, If the people (who include the Doctors too) who are beneficiaries of a welfare scheme (Doctor's may not be but their fellow humans are), are themselves not ready for it's honest and effective implementation, then No Government or it's officials can. Any regulation can be effective if and only if Citizen are vigilant. So my suggestion to the elder statesman like you, sir, is to refrain from fear mongering and to form vigilante groups of well meaning individuals or at least be self vigilant.
Aug 12
Releaseof funds to care giving hospitals are done after due verification by state authorities and certification oraffiliation.This type of fraud is simply unthinkable .The state govts must be held responsible and punished and money should be recovered from such rogue institution.
Aug 12
Yes I agree with CSJacob any scheme started by Centre or state Governments the same frauds all over India. The aim of Governments is good but mean people miss using for personal gains. That is India n Indian. Alas!!!!!!
Aug 12
All these programs such as Ayushman and Aarogya Sree though appear noble are in fact helping corporate hospitals to loot money from the government. Instead, Govt could spend the same money in providing free or subsidized healthcare to the people through establishing it's own hospitals and providing quality healthcare to the citizens.Our elected representatives need to be educated and told how to spend money wisely. Stop playing into the hands of corporate criminals.
Aug 12
