₹36.84 Lakh Fine Imposed After Hospitals Violated Ayushman Bharat Cashless Treatment Rules
The Gujarat government has penalised 24 hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) in Ahmedabad for illegally charging patients who held valid scheme cards, despite the programme guaranteeing cashless treatment.
The information was shared in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly during the ongoing session in response to a question raised by a Congress legislator. The government stated that several hospitals in Ahmedabad city and district violated the scheme’s guidelines by collecting money from beneficiaries eligible for free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme.
Multiple Violations Reported Till January 2026
According to the government’s written reply, several incidents were recorded up to January 31, 2026, where patients eligible for free medical care under PM-JAY were allegedly asked to pay for treatment.
Authorities said that over the past two years, 24 empanelled hospitals were found to have breached the rules of the scheme. After receiving complaints and verifying the allegations, officials issued notices to the hospitals and imposed penalties.
As per the data tabled in the Assembly, the Gujarat government has imposed a total fine of ₹36,84,369 on these hospitals during the last two years for violating PM-JAY guidelines.
Khyati Hospital Controversy Resurfaces
The issue has once again drawn attention to the controversy surrounding Khyati Hospital, which had earlier sparked widespread debate over the alleged misuse of the government health scheme.
Reports had claimed that the hospital organised a medical camp in Borisna village in Kadi to extend government health benefits to villagers. However, villagers later alleged that only those possessing Ayushman cards were called to Ahmedabad for treatment, even though many of them had no serious health complaints.
Some reports also claimed that several patients were subjected to angioplasty procedures, a specialised cardiac intervention, raising concerns about unnecessary treatments being performed under the scheme.
Deaths During Procedures Triggered Protests
The controversy escalated when two patients reportedly died during angioplasty procedures, triggering protests by villagers and relatives outside the hospital. The incident led to a wider investigation into possible misuse of the scheme and medical practices at the hospital.
Congress Leader Alleges ‘Medical Mafia’ in Welfare Schemes
Senior Congress leader Amit Chavda criticised the alleged misuse of the government welfare programme.
He said the PM-JAY scheme was designed to provide financial relief and healthcare access to poor and middle-class families, but alleged that some private hospitals had turned it into a profit-driven system.
Referring to the Khyati Hospital case, Chavda claimed that such incidents highlight how patients’ lives can be put at risk in attempts to claim reimbursements from government health schemes. He further alleged the existence of a “medical mafia” operating within welfare programmes and demanded stricter monitoring and enforcement to prevent such violations.
