3 treated on Ayushman cards using fake docus: RTI report

Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, June 16

Three persons allegedly got treatment from private hospitals on the basis of their Ayushman golden cards which were made on the basis of fake documents in 2019 in the district. This was revealed in an RTI reply.

Though these persons had deposited the amount spent on their treatment after getting notices from Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Protection Authority (ABHHPA), no action has been initiated against the persons who made the cards on the basis of fake documents.

In a reply to an RTI query, Public Information Officer-cum-Deputy Civil Surgeon said that three persons have got treatment illegally under the Union Government’s scheme Ayushman Bharat.

The persons were identified as Avnashi Lal of Jain Mohalla; Sumit Chhabra of ward-3 Insaar market and Poonam of Kurar village in the district.

As per the details available, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ABHHPA, at Panchkula sent a letter to the Civil Surgeon’s office in September 2019 that the golden card of Avnashi Lal had been made by adopting wrong means in October 2018.

Avnashi Lal had taken treatment at a private hospital and Ayushman Haryana had paid Rs 50,000 to the private hospital for his treatment. The patient had died on December 31, 2018. After inquiry, Rs 50,000 was recovered from Mahender Singh, son of Avnashi Lal.

The golden card to Sumit Chhabra of Insar market was reportedly made wrongly by Ayushman mitra without verifying the documents in October 2018. He had got treatment from a private hospital in February 2019. After the matter came to light, a recovery notice was issued to him by the health authorities and he deposited Rs 40,000 into the account of Ayushman Haryana.

The third case was from Kurar village and a woman, Poonam, had got golden Ayushman card reportedly by producing fake ration card. She also got treatment for kidney stone from a private hospital. For that, Ayushman Haryana had paid Rs 25,000 to a private hospital. After the matter came to light, CEO, ABHHPA, sent a legal notice to her to recover Rs 25,000.

Deepak Kumar, an RTI activist, alleged that there was a scam in the issuance of golden Ayushman cards at Panipat. While three cases had come to the fore, several more fake cards could come out if the government inquires into it properly, he added.

It is surprising that no action has been initiated against the employees who issued these cards illegally, he added. Stern action should be initiated against such employees, he demanded.

No action against officials

• These three persons have deposited the amount spent on their treatment after getting notices from Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Protection Authority
• But no action has been initiated against the officials who made the cards on the basis of fake documents
• As per the details, the Chief Executive Officer, ABHHPA, at Panchkula sent a letter to the Civil Surgeon’s office in September 2019 that the golden card of Avnashi Lal had been made by adopting wrong means in October 2018