Shifa Hospital Srinagar’s Empanelment Suspended by State Health Agency

Shifa Hospital Srinagar’s Empanelment Suspended by State Health Agency

AGENCIES

The State Health Agency (SHA) in Jammu and Kashmir has suspended the empanelment of Shifa Hospital, Srinagar, for six months due to violations of the National Health Authority (NHA) guidelines.

An order reads that the hospital has been fined over Rs 26 lakh for illegally collecting payments from beneficiaries.

“The State Health Agency (SHA), JK, received several grievances and complaints against the empaneled healthcare provider, Shifa Medical Centre, Srinagar, for violating guidelines issued by the National Health Authority, New Delhi. Show-cause notices were issued to the hospital regarding these cases, but the hospital failed to respond within the specified timeframe,” the order reads.

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Based on numerous grievances, a team of officials conducted a surprise visit to the hospital on November 23, 2024. During interactions with beneficiaries and patients, it was observed that the hospital was blatantly violating scheme guidelines, including coercing patients into out-of-pocket expenditures and denying treatment, the order adds.

A subsequent show-cause notice was served to the hospital on December 18, 2024, requesting clarification on the issues identified during the surprise visit. However, the hospital again failed to respond within the mandated five working days, as required under the Hospital Empanelment and De-Empanelment Guidelines.

“The case, along with all relevant documents, was presented to the State Empanelment Committee during its meeting on December 26, 2024, for deliberation and decision,” the order notes.

“It was decided, in accordance with the Hospital Empanelment Guidelines, that the hospital be immediately suspended for six months and a penalty of Rs 26,15,000 be imposed for illegal payments collected from aggrieved beneficiaries,” the order adds.

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However, to ensure continuity of care for dialysis patients, the hospital has been permitted to continue providing dialysis treatment to existing patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and AB PM-JAY SEHAT schemes.

“Now, therefore, Shifa Medical Centre, Magarmal Bagh, Srinagar, is hereby suspended for a period of six months from the issuance of this order. However, in the interest of dialysis patients, the hospital shall continue providing treatment to existing dialysis patients under AB PM-JAY/AB PM-JAY SEHAT.

Additionally, a penalty of ₹26,15,000 (Twenty-Six Lakh Fifteen Thousand only) is imposed on the hospital for the illegal payments collected from beneficiaries.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by VoM News staff and is published from the syndicated feed)