When two patients from Kadi village died after undergoing angioplasty at Ahmedabad’s Khyati Hospital, outraged villagers gathered to protest, bringing to light a shocking fraud allegedly being perpetrated under the Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) scheme.
PMJAY is a government initiative that reimburses hospitals for treatment and surgeries provided to underprivileged patients who possess the Ayushman Bharat card.
Designed to ensure quality healthcare for those in need, the scheme has come under scrutiny as Khyati Hospital is accused of misusing it to profit from unwarranted medical procedures.
Khyati Hospital has reportedly claimed over Rs 27 crore from the government for performing 600 cardiology treatments, including Rs 3.66 crore in the last six months for 380 angiographies, 220 angioplasties, and 36 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgeries.
The alleged scheme involved free health camps in rural areas, where people with Ayushman Bharat cards were identified, informed they had “minor illnesses,”
and then transported to the hospital for treatment.
According to sources, angiographies were conducted without the patients' knowledge, and some patients underwent angioplasty despite no indication for the procedure. Families only learnt of the procedures after the patients’ deaths, sparking outrage and unrest.
On 10 November, the hospital held a camp in Borisana village without obtaining government permission—a requirement under PMJAY.
Out of 120 individuals examined, 19 Ayushman Bharat cardholders were advised to visit the hospital for further care.
These patients were allegedly asked to sign a form, later revealed to be a consent form for angiography.
On 11 November, a bus was sent to collect the patients from the village. Hospital staff instructed them to bring their Ayushman Bharat and Aadhaar cards. All 19 individuals reportedly underwent angiography, with seven receiving stents during angioplasty.
The procedures, performed by award-winning Dr Vazirani, reportedly led to deteriorating health in some patients, resulting in two fatalities.
Enraged family members gathered at the hospital, where their agitation led to vandalism, prompting doctors and staff to flee the premises.
The Gujarat government has launched an investigation, directing PMJAY’s anti-fraud unit to examine the case. The Gujarat Medical Council has also initiated a probe.
Investigators are reviewing medical records to determine if the patients genuinely required angiography and angioplasty, and are analysing surgical footage to verify the procedures’ necessity.
Authorities have blacklisted Khyati Hospital, prohibiting all implicated doctors from practising in Gujarat.
The state government is drafting new standard operating procedures for cardiac procedures in response to the incident.
Currently, four FIRs have been filed against the hospital’s owner, a senior doctor, and the director, though hospital management remains at large.
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