Bigger hospital scam suspected

The medical documents of over 50 patients treated at Byculla’s Balaji Hospital are being investigated after suspicion that they were fraudulently used by doctors to get funds from a government health scheme.

The medical documents of over 50 patients treated at Byculla’s Balaji Hospital are being investigated after suspicion that they were fraudulently used by doctors to get funds from a government health scheme.

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The state directorate of health service (DHS) has asked the police to probe the medical documents of patients named as beneficiaries under the Jeevandayi Arogya Yojana, a state government health scheme for poor patients. In February, Matunga resident Rajesh Singh, 32, had filed a complaint at Sir JJ Marg police state alleging that two surgeons from the hospital had collected Rs. 2.5 lakh from him to operate on an oral tumour, while also claiming Rs. 1.5 lakh from the scheme using his medical papers without his knowledge. The DHS now suspects there is a bigger fraud in the hospital involving over 50 cases. The yojana pays between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 1.5 lakh incurred by poor patients.

DHS officials inquiring into the incident told HT that it is unlikely that those involved would do it for a single case. “There is a possibility that documents relating to past cases sent by the hospital could also be fake, hence we are sending them to the police for verifying credentials,” said a senior official from DHS.

Dr Ramesh Kagzi, chairman of Balaji Hospital said his establishment was not involved in any scam. “We have operated more than 1,500 cases under the Jeevandayi Arogya Yojana scheme so far. The hospital has no role whatsoever.” Kagzi refused to comment further on the case.