The Gujarat Medical Council (GMC) announced on Wednesday that it has suspended the medical registrations of two doctors involved in the alleged Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PMJAY) fraud for three years, effective from February 11.
The suspension affected Dr Sanjay Mulji Patolia, a Bariatric Surgeon and Director of Ahmedabad Bariatrics and Cosmetics Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Khyati Multispeciality Hospital, as well as Dr Shaileshkumar Amrutlal Anand, the former General Manager of the PMJAY scheme in Gujarat.
The suspension follows the deaths of two PMJAY beneficiaries from Mehsana district on November 11, last year, after undergoing an angioplasty at Khyati Hospital. An FIR was filed two days later by the Gujarat government alleging that the procedure was unnecessary for the deceased.
In Dr Patolia’s case, the GMC order stated that under Section 22(1)(b)(i) of the Gujarat Medical Council Act, his name, registered for MBBS and MS surgery would be removed from the medical register for three years. Taking suo motu cognizance into the matter, the inquiry was conducted following a request from the Additional Director of Medical Services, with the GMC considering a report from the Gujarat government’s medical expert committee and hearing arguments from Dr Patolia’s wife.
Dr Patolia and eight others from Khyati Hospital were charged in separate FIRs on November 13, last year, for charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in connection with the alleged misuse of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme.
Moreover, for Dr Anand, the GMC order indicated that under Section 22(1)(b)(i) of the Gujarat Medical Council Act, his name, registered for MBBS and DMC, would also be removed from the medical register for three years. The GMC heard arguments on Anand’s behalf from his brother.
Dr Anand was charged on December 17, last year, along with eight others, for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to approve PMJAY cards for ineligible beneficiaries, along with charges of forgery and criminal breach of trust.
Also Read: India’s Chance To Find Mojo In CT Opener Against Bangladesh
