SHA suspends empanelment of 5 hospitals in J&K

Srinagar, Jan 14: The J&K State Health Agency (SHA) has suspended the empanelment of five hospitals including Shifa Hospital and Florence Hospital for violating guidelines issued by the National Health Authority (NHA). In addition to suspension of empanelment for six months for Shifa Hospital, a fine of Rs 26.15 lakh has also been imposed.

According to the order issued by the SHA, Shifa Hospital was found to be “coercing patients to incur out-of-pocket expenses and denying treatment to patients”. “Despite being served with show-cause notices, the hospital failed to respond within the stipulated time frame,” reads the order. The SHA has said it conducted a surprise visit to the hospital on November 23, 2024, and found the hospital to be flagrantly violating the guidelines of the scheme. The hospital was given another opportunity to explain its stand, but it failed to respond again, the order reads.

As a result, the SHA has suspended the empanelment of Shifa Hospital for a period of six months reads the order 03 SHA J&K of 2025 issued on 11 January. The hospital has been penalized Rs 26.15 lakh for illegally collecting payments from beneficiaries. The penalty amount shall be deposited by the hospital within five working days. If the hospital fails to deposit the penalty amount within the stipulated time, it shall be adjusted with the pending payment to the Empanelled Health Care Provider (EHCP) without any further notice, reads the order.

The suspension would mean that patients would not be able to avail of treatment under Government insurance schemes provided through “Golden Card”. However, in the interest of dialysis patients, the hospital will be allowed to continue providing dialysis treatment to existing patients under the AB PM-JAY and SEHAT scheme, the SHA has said.

The order stated that the hospital's empanelment has been suspended for violating the guidelines of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-SEHAT (AB PM-JAY-SEHAT) schemes.

In addition, Florence Hospital Srinagar has also been struck off from the empanelled hospital list for the same reasons as have been cited for Shifa Hospital. “The reply to show-cause notice received from the hospital was found to be unsatisfactory,” the suspension notice said. Florence Hospital has been penalised Rs 2.97 lakh.

Ankur Maitrika Hospital Jammu has been penalised Rs 10,27,500 for failing to satisfy SHA about a grievance that had been received against it, as per an order issued simultaneously with four others. The hospital was suspended for violating the guidelines of the AB PM-JAY and AB PM-JAY-SEHAT schemes.

Two Eye Hospitals in Jammu, KLSM Rotary Eye Hospital, Jammu and Sood Eye Care Center Jammu has also been found violating the guidelines of the AB PM-JAY and AB PM-JAY-SEHAT schemes. The SHA has taken these actions to ensure that hospitals in the state comply with the guidelines and provide quality healthcare services to patients.

Last year, the SHA acted upon violators of guidelines, suspending 13 hospitals and imposing penalties on 17 others for fraud. Over Rs 1.77 crore in penalties were levied, with Rs 1.34 crore recovered.

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