Services of 2 Ludhiana pvt hospitals terminated

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

A day after Team Insaaf supremo and Independent MLA Simarjeet Bains accused the government of being hand in glove with doctors in duping beneficiaries of the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana, the state government has terminated the services of Aastha Kidney Hospital in Maya Nagar and Garg Hospital in Jawaddi.

The private hospitals had allegedly charged money from the patients in lieu of treatment and also availed the monetary benefit from Bhagat Puran Yojana. When confronted, doctors of both hospitals returned the money charged from poor patients. A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the matter and if the owners and doctors of the hospitals are found guilty, further proceedings will be initiated against them, the communiqué has stated.

As per the orders received from Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan, Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal said the department had taken this issue seriously and an inquiry had been initiated into it. She said for the time being, the services of both hospitals regarding the Bhagat Puran Yojana had been terminated.

She said if the hospitals were found guilty in the inquiry, the department might cancel their registration and also take legal action against them. She added that the United India Insurance, the company related to this scheme, had also paused the work on bill claims.

Mahajan and Chhatwal said, “Bhagat Puran Yojana is a very important scheme which has been started by the state government for the welfare of people. The hospitals will not be allowed to indulge in such malpractices.” 

They also appealed to the people to submit their complaints at toll-free number 104 and assured that timely action would be taken.