Odisha govt bars 10 pvt hosps under health scheme for violating norms

Bhubaneswar: As many as 10 private hospitals have been de-rostered from the Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana over alleged irregularities and violations of scheme norms, while another hospital in Ganjam district has been penalised for submitting duplicate claims, health minister Mukesh Mahaling said in the assembly on Monday.Mahaling said the govt had examined 56 complaints related to irregularities by hospitals empanelled under the scheme. “Following a formal review of the 56 complaints, show-cause notices were issued to the concerned hospitals/facilities. Out of these, 10 hospitals have been suspended and one hospital has been penalised,” the minister said.Mahaling said the govt is closely monitoring hospitals and healthcare providers under the scheme to ensure beneficiaries receive the promised standard of high-quality, cashless treatment.Of the 10 suspended hospitals, three are in Cuttack district, two each in Ganjam and Khurda, and one each in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balangir districts. Action was taken for alleged violations of scheme terms and guidelines, irregularities, absence of proper clinical establishment registration, and negligence in patient treatment, including a case linked to the death of a woman.In a separate case, a hospital in Ganjam district was issued a show-cause notice for submitting duplicate claims under ABPMJAY-GJAY scheme. The govt has recovered a penalty of Rs 58,500 from the hospital.The minister told the assembly that action is being initiated on the basis of complaints received against hospitals under the scheme. He said any hospital found violating norms after complaints are lodged will face show-cause proceedings and further action from the govt.The Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana is aimed at providing cashless healthcare benefits to eligible beneficiaries across Odisha, said an official source.