JAIPUR – Healthcare services in Rajasthan faced significant disruptions on May 4, 2026, as hundreds of private doctors and hospital staff staged a massive protest outside Swasthya Bhawan. The medical community is protesting against alleged systemic irregularities in the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) and the recent arrest of a senior practitioner in connection with a multi-crore fraud investigation.
Demands for Reform and Release
The agitation, spearheaded by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Rajasthan and several private hospital societies, was triggered by the arrest of Dr. Sondev Bansal on April 12. While authorities allege Dr. Bansal was involved in submitting forged documents to claim reimbursements, the IMA has termed the police action “unjust and unwarranted,” describing the issues as minor procedural and documentary lapses.
In a formal letter to the Chief Minister, the protesting bodies have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Bansal and an inquiry into the police officials involved. Furthermore, they are seeking a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that no criminal proceedings are initiated against medical professionals without a preliminary departmental inquiry.
Systemic Failure and Pending Dues
Beyond the recent arrests, the medical community highlighted severe structural flaws within the RGHS. According to representatives from the Rajasthan Alliance of Hospital Associations, service providers are currently owed approximately ₹2,200 crore in pending payments, with some bills outstanding for over nine months.
“The system is functioning on discretionary powers rather than transparent rules,” stated Dr. Mahesh Sharma, President of IMA Rajasthan. He emphasized that the current boycott of RGHS services will continue indefinitely until the state government clears all pending dues and establishes fixed timelines for claim settlements and responses to queries.
Impact on Patient Care
The ongoing standoff has left thousands of patients stranded, particularly those relying on the flagship health scheme for outpatient and inpatient treatments. While emergency services and critical care for already admitted patients have been maintained, many private hospitals have stopped generating new transaction IDs (TIDs) under the RGHS, forcing patients to seek care at overcrowded government facilities.
The Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has recently taken suo motu cognisance of the situation, observing that the denial of treatment to state employees and their families could amount to a violation of human rights.
Government Response
In response to the escalating protest, senior officials from the Medical and Health and Finance departments held meetings with medical representatives at the Secretariat. While the government has proposed transitioning the RGHS into an insurance-based model to reduce fraud and improve efficiency, the medical community remains skeptical, arguing that such an overhaul could further disrupt essential outpatient services.
As of Tuesday morning, the IMA has warned that if a concrete decision is not reached within 48 hours, the current symbolic boycott may escalate into a state-wide indefinite shutdown of all private healthcare services.
