ગુજરાતી
Rs 450 crore for Ayushman treatment in Ahmedabad
Scams were done with government money in the famous multispeciality hospital of Ahmedabad. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi Jan Arogya Yojana, 1 lakh 49 thousand patients were admitted in the hospitals of Ahmedabad in 2022-23. In which Rs 450 crore was spent.
In 2021-22, 74 thousand 723 patients were treated. In which Rs 218 crores were spent.
Expenditures doubled in two years. In this scheme the beneficiary gets Ayushman card. The beneficiary can get his treatment by giving this card to the hospital. Know the online process to apply for this scheme. The validity of Ayushman card is 3 years. There are more than 20,000 hospitals in the country and more than 1000 diseases can be treated for free.
6 lakh 14 thousand new Ayushman cards were made in Ahmedabad in 2023-24.
By October-2024, 36 crore cards will be made in the country. In which the number of health cards in Gujarat in three years was 1 crore 77 lakh.
Account of expenditure in Gujarat
Year – Ayushman Card – Patients – Expenditure (in Rs crore)
2021-22 – 45,71,023 – 5,66,736 – 1620.60
2022-23 – 53,33,270 – 9,15,284 – 2646.50
2023-24 – 77,95,739 – 12,80,684 – 3607.00
In Surat, Rs 172 crore was spent on 51 thousand 600 patients in 2021-22. In 2023-24, 94 thousand patients were treated at a cost of Rs 331 crore.
After this scandal, which patient was actually in need and this question is being raised on BJP’s Bhupendra Patel government and Narendra Modi government.
77 lakh 95 thousand new Ayushman cards were issued in Gujarat in 2023-24.
Modi changed name and scams started
PMJAY was launched in 2008 by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) for the poor. This scheme was renamed and launched by Narendra Modi on 23 September 2022. It was declared the world’s largest health insurance scheme. In which the diagnostic test, pre-hospitalization expenses and medical treatment expenses are covered every year for every family. Rs 5 lakh is given for each treatment. There is also cashless health insurance.
promote
Doubling the insurance cover to Rs 10 lakh (and up to Rs 15 lakh for women) is being considered. 4 lakh more private hospital beds will be added to this scheme and the number of beneficiaries will be increased from 55 crore to 100 crore. It provides an annual coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospital admission to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries out of 12.34 crore families, which is 40% of the country’s population. Till June 30, 7.37 crore hospitals worth Rs 1 lakh crore have been approved under this scheme. There are 7.22 lakh private hospital beds, which will increase to 9.32 lakh by 2026-27 and 11.12 lakh by 2028-29.
The government was informed about the scam
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India – CAG had revealed that 7.5 lakh patients had the same mobile number. The number without SIM card was also wrong. There were 20 more phone numbers which were bogus. Thousands of people were registered on the same number, while most of the numbers were given randomly, meaning there was no SIM card for those numbers. Mobile number is very important to search records. This deficiency was rectified during the second scheme.
However, 7.87 crore beneficiaries were increased to 12 crore.
88 thousand 760 patients died during treatment. But 2 lakh 14 thousand 923 new claims related to these patients were paid again. Out of these, Rs 6 crore 97 lakh was given to hospitals in lieu of 3 thousand 903 claims.
In Gujarat, the ‘Maa’ (Mukhyamantri Amritam) card for health treatment, which was linked to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), has increased the problems of the people. It has been five years since the PMJAY scheme was implemented in Gujarat on 23 September 2018.
In July 2023, the Gujarat government made changes in the PMJAY scheme. In the new scheme, the treatment amount has been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Under the new scheme, Ayushman card holders will also be able to get kidney transplant, heart, liver, cochlear implant and other difficult surgeries done. Patients will be able to get 2471 types of treatments in 1745 government and 799 private hospitals of Gujarat.
Ayushman
By September 2024, 2 crore 36 lakh 60 thousand 580 Ayushman cards have been made in Gujarat. Maximum number of cards were made in Ahmedabad district. The least were made in Dang district. 28 hospitals with 500 beds in the state treated patients under the Ayushman scheme.
leftover money
According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gujarat Chapter, the government is not paying the expenses after providing treatment under the PMJAY scheme. It is estimated that the government owes Rs 350 crore to 250 hospitals in the state.
by 2022
A total of Rs 3507.72 crore was paid to patients in Gujarat till November 2022, while payment of Rs 534 crore was still pending. Out of which payment was made to 14 lakh 12 thousand 311 patients. Payment was yet to be made to 1 lakh 19 thousand patients.
first scam
Between January 2021 and March 2021, 50 hospitals in Gujarat were inspected. In which 50 hospitals treated 5217 patients more than their capacity of 2552 patients. 50 percent of the patients were getting treatment on paper.
Gujarat has the highest number of scams in the country
From January 2021 to March 2021, 78 thousand 396 patients were identified in the country under the PMJAY scheme, out of which 27 percent i.e. 21 thousand 515 patients were in Gujarat. This simply means that Bhupendra PatelThe government was aware of this scam.
In Gujarat, a record number of patients—13,860—were admitted to hospitals for treatment simultaneously. While the government was fully aware, the patients themselves were often oblivious, not even concerned about the cost of their treatment bills. Despite the system being digitized, the government approves the treatment process at every stage. The very same people were orchestrating this scam. Details regarding patients, treatments, medicines, and surgeries are transmitted to officials; the fact that a scam occurred implies the complicity of both the system and the government. They perpetrated the fraud by transferring patient data from one hospital to another. There was collusion between government officials and the hospitals. A committee was supposed to be formed to address this. A health scheme launched in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name became a source of illicit earnings for private hospitals. Hospitals have collected ₹7,874 crore. In Gujarat, earnings amounted to ₹1.54 lakh crore in the 2023-24 fiscal year; Bhupendra Patel allocated ₹3,607 crore.
Between 2018-19 and 2024-25, the central government allocated ₹67,662 crore to Gujarat for healthcare expenses over a five-year period. Excessive funds were disbursed to the 2,675 hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman scheme.
Approval to join the Ayushman scheme is granted swiftly if the need aligns with the financial stakes involved.
All the hospitals involved have become notorious for these fraudulent practices.
Scandal in Morbi
Ayush Hospital in Morbi treated 11,393 patients over a period of 21 months. While there were a total of 14,057 patients in the Morbi district, 6,100 claims were pending; 80 percent of these claims were attributed to this single hospital. Country’s First Knee Replacement Under Ayushman Bharat Scheme Performed in Morbi (2018)
Subheading: Prime Minister’s Office Congratulates Morbi Hospital and Health Department
An elderly person from a poor family in Morbi found relief from unbearable leg pain under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Bharat). The surgery performed on this elderly individual was the first of its kind in the country. The nation’s first free knee replacement surgery was conducted at Morbi’s Ayush Hospital; while such a procedure typically costs between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh in private hospitals, this scheme provided much-needed relief to the impoverished family. The Prime Minister’s Office also congratulated Ayush Hospital and the District Panchayat Health Department for performing the surgery free of cost.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched recently. Shortly thereafter, the country’s first joint surgery (knee replacement) under this scheme was performed in Morbi city. Jiviben, a 60-year-old woman residing in the Kalika Plot area of Morbi, had long been suffering from joint pain. She contacted Ayush Hospital, where she was informed about the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Subsequently, Dr. Rajdeep Singh Chauhan of Ayush Hospital performed the surgery to treat her joint pain. The procedure lasted two and a half hours and was ultimately successful, bringing joy to the elderly woman. It is worth noting that this surgery usually costs between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh in private hospitals. She expressed her gratitude to the hospital and the Prime Minister for performing the surgery for free. Dr. Rajdeep Singh Chauhan and Chetan Aghara of Ayush Hospital stated that the hospital had the honor of performing the country’s first joint surgery under the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana. An information center for the scheme has now been set up at Ayush Hospital, and beneficiaries are encouraged to avail themselves of its benefits. When the elderly woman contacted Ayush Hospital—which is empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme—hospital officials informed her that she was eligible under the scheme and that the surgery for her leg pain would be free of cost. Consequently, after consulting her sons, she decided to undergo the surgery at this hospital. I did not have to pay a single rupee for this operation, and I have found permanent relief from leg pain.
An information center for this scheme has now been set up at Ayush Hospital. Beneficiaries are urged to take full advantage of this scheme. It is worth noting that prior to this, joint pain surgery under the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana pilot project had been performed in another state. Subsequently, the first knee replacement surgery was conducted in Morbi. Thus, this particular operation marks a first for India.
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5 Hospitals
Between 2018-19 and 2024-25, only five private hospitals in Gujarat were suspended from the list. In contrast, during the same period, hospitals were removed from the panel in other states: 479 in Maharashtra, 439 in Madhya Pradesh, 58 in Bihar, 176 in Karnataka, 184 in Jharkhand, 246 in Andhra Pradesh, and 419 in Uttar Pradesh. This suggests that the BJP government led by Bhupendra Patel in Gujarat is either engaging in wrongdoing or concealing it. The Bhupendra Patel government made payments totaling ₹37.24 crore to five private hospitals.
These included Vedanta Children’s Hospital, Ayush Multi-Specialist Hospital, Sadbhavana Hospital, and J.R. Hospital.
Between 2018-19 and 2024-25, Dharmanand Hospital, Neelkanth Hospital, Param Hospital, Sterling Hospital, and Yash Hospital in Gujarat were suspended from the list.
The government was alarmed following the ‘Khyati’ death case, which has served as a wake-up call. Consequently, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cardiology and radiology treatments have been drafted and submitted to the central government. The government believes that some hospitals are administering treatments improperly solely to make money; in reality, public funds are being siphoned off.Health Minister Rishikesh Patel should have raised the issue of patients’ lives being jeopardized for the sake of money. However, he failed to do so.
The scam exploited a provision in the government system where certain Ayushman scheme officials would grant approval within five minutes of a patient’s admission. It is suspected that crores of rupees were disbursed in this manner—a matter that has not been fully investigated.
The 2020 Bogus Card Scam
In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a scam involving the issuance of fake Ayushman cards came to light in Surat. Bogus cards were discovered; for instance, the family of a heart attack patient presented such a card, only for the fraud to be exposed.
A gang of fraudsters used to distribute these fake Ayushman cards at social gatherings in residential areas of Saurashtra. None of the cards proved valid when medical treatment was actually required. In one instance, a resident of Katargam suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized; the Ayushman card presented upon admission turned out to be fake. The card had been obtained for just ₹100.
Such cards had previously been distributed at a *Sneh Milan* (social get-together) in Chogath village, Umrala Taluka, in 2019.
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Why is the Rupani government silent in the Assembly regarding the country’s biggest Ayushman scam?
Gandhinagar, March 13, 2020
The state government had ordered the cancellation of 61,000 fake Ayushman cards in January 2020 but subsequently failed to disclose what further actions were taken in the Gujarat Assembly. The scam is so widespread that it threatens to tarnish the reputation of the BJP’s Rupani government; consequently, the government is making every effort to suppress the issue. However, critics loudly proclaim that the Ayushman scam is the BJP government’s largest healthcare scandal—and indeed, it is being regarded as the country’s biggest scam. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani—who also holds charge of the Health Department—has remained silent on the matter’s outcome, particularly as a series of scams have surfaced under his administration since 2016, with the Ayushman scam standing out as the most significant of them all. The state government has ordered the cancellation of approximately 61,000 fake Ayushman cards. Last month, the state health department uncovered a major scam in which fraudsters were creating thousands of fake cards by exploiting loopholes in the card-issuance software.
In one instance, about 1,500 cards were issued to a single individual. Ayushman cards, issued under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), provide medical treatment coverage of up to ₹7 lakh at government and registered private hospitals for families belonging to socially and economically backward sections.
A phased investigation revealed that around 61,000 fake Ayushman cards had been issued.
A senior health department official stated, “Orders have been issued regarding the 61,000 fake Ayushman cards identified during the investigation into the card scam.”
Scrutiny of Ayushman card users across various private and government hospitals is currently underway, and details regarding these cards are being sought from various insurance companies.
**What happened with the scam involving 1,700 Ayushman cards issued to a single family?**
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme to provide free medical facilities to approximately 50 crore people in the country. It was a flagship scheme of PM Modi. A single family in Gujarat was found to have received 1,700 Ayushman cards.
More than two lakh fake ‘Golden Cards’ have been created under this scheme. The fraud was detected through the National Health Authority’s (NHA) IT system, and this figure could rise. Additional cases of money being made through the creation of fake cards have surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand. Individuals ineligible for the scheme have also managed to obtain Ayushman cards. Addressing the matter, NHA Deputy CEO Praveen Gedam stated that complete data is being sought from the states; the situation will become clear once the full data is received. Artificial Intelligence will also be employed to detect such fraud.
Suspicion of fraud arose when private hospitals began submitting exorbitant bills to the government for medical treatments. Payments were even made for many of these bills. However, after the fraud was detected, the government recovered a fine of ₹4 crore from these hospitals. More than 150 hospitals that submitted fake bills have been excluded from the scheme. Over 1,350 bills from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have also been found to be suspicious. At the ASG Hospital in Chhattisgarh, 109 cards were issued in the name of a single family, and 57 of those individuals underwent eye surgery. In Punjab, 200 cards were found issued in the names of two families. In Madhya Pradesh, 322 cards were found in the name of one family.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in September 2018. So far, more than 70 lakh people have received treatment under this scheme. The government has paid over ₹4,500 crore to hospitals for these treatments.
**The Bharuch Connection in Rajkot**
On November 27, 2019, at a camp organized in the Sadar area of Rajkot city to issue Ayushman cards to the rural community, ₹700 was charged instead of the prescribed ₹30.
The police registered a case against eight individuals and arrested six of them. Investigations revealed the involvement of a doctor and a woman from Bharuch. Raids were conducted in Bharuch. Dr. Keshav Kumar of the Bharuch Urban Health Center had been issued an ID, but he misused it to get cards made at other locations as well.
A search was launched for Kishore Gandhi from Surat and Dilip Gandhi from Ahmedabad, who were implicated in the scam.
Surat is notorious for the practice of implanting ‘springs’ (stents); if a patient visits with chest pain, the immediate response is often, “Namaste brother, a spring needs to be implanted.” The patient is then told that if the spring isn’t implanted, they would require a bypass surgery—or else……will not have to be operated.
Nana Mava alias Virendra Vipulbhai Madhani (Vanik) (age 52)—residing at E-388, Ajmera, Shastri Nagar Road—and Dhirendrabhai Damodardas Gorsia (Vanik) (age 62)—residing at Bharat Smriti, Ramkrishna Nagar-8 and Block No. 202, Janvi Apartments, Kamrej, Surat—along with their computer operators—Bhavin Babubhai Vaghela (age 23) of C-27, near Shakti Nath Circle, Narayan Nagar-3, Bharuch; Wasim Jivasha Diwan (age 19) of Shahnaz Nagari, Ikhad Village, Bharuch; and Shahimkhan Sharifkhan Pathan (age 19) of D-201, Mahfuz Complex, opposite Welfare Hospital, Jambusar Bypass Road, Bharuch—as well as Kishore Gandhi from Surat and Dilip Gandhi from Ahmedabad, were arrested under IPC Sections 409 and 34; in addition to Kishore and Dilip, six other individuals were also arrested.
What happened to the 60 private hospitals?
Before the Ayushman card scam—linked to the scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—came to light, an inspection of hospitals across the state had been ordered. At that time, a directive was issued to inspect 70 hospitals in Ahmedabad.
Free medical treatment is also being provided at 60 private hospitals in Ahmedabad city. The list of hospitals in the city offering free treatment to beneficiaries under the Ayushman scheme includes the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital, which was inaugurated yesterday. This new city hospital joins a network that includes 17 government hospitals (such as V.S. Hospital, L.G. Hospital, Shardaben Hospital, and Civil Hospital) and 60 private hospitals, bringing the total to 77 hospitals.
More than 1,700 government and private hospitals across Gujarat have been included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, have urged citizens to make the most of the central government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme—a highly beneficial initiative and a boon for the public—which is expected to see a rise in the number of beneficiaries in the near future. The hospitals included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme are:
Akash Eye Care,
Alok Hospital,
ARNA Super Speciality Hospital,
Aastha Bavisi Eye Hospital,
Centre for Sight Ahmedabad,
Contact Care Hospital,
Devansh Eye Hospital,
Diva Eye Institute,
Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital,
Eye Care Hospital,
Fracture and Orthopaedics Hospital,
Gayatri Hospital and Research Centre,
GCS Medical College Hospital,
Health and Care Foundation,
Jaideep Hospital, Krishna Maternity Nursing Home,
Mavani Kidney Care Max Super Speciality Surgical Hospital,
Nice Child Care Hospital,
Ojas Hospital,
Palm Multispeciality Hospital,
PHC Pranjana Health Care,
Rajasthan Hospital,
Rudraksh Hospital,
Sardar Children Hospital and Neonatal Care,
Shalin Health Care,
Shantamani Multispeciality Hospital,
Shivam Medical Hospital,
Shreeji Eye Hospital,
Shrey Multi-facilities, Sindhu Hospital,
SMS Multispecialist Hospital,
Sushilaben Kothari Charitable Hospital,
Steven Eye Clinic,
Swayambhu Health Care,
Trisha Multispeciality Hospital,
Sahyog General Hospital and Nursing Home,
Karmdeep Orthopaedic and Skin Hospital,
Lifecare Institute of Medical Sciences and Research,
Neuro One Stomach and Critical Care Institute,
Shakti General Hospital,
Om Orthopaedic and Dental Hospital. These include Sifa Multispecialty Hospital,
Maruti Orthopedic Hospital and Joint Replacement Center,
Global Hospital,
Rudraksh Hospital,
Shivalik Multispecialty Hospital,
Kakadiya Hospital,
Wrestling Hospital,
Pushpa Children’s Hospital,
HCG Hospital,
SGVP Holistic Hospital,
Devashya Super Specialty and Multispecialty Hospital,
Ahmedabad Eye Laser Hospital,
Shalby Hospital-Naroda,
Aastha Orthopedic Hospital,
Kanba Hospital, Star Hospital,
Tej Eye Hospital, and
Shalby Hospital-Vijay Char Rasta.
On February 12, 2019, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel announced that a proposal had been submitted to the Government of India to include all beneficiaries of the state’s ‘Maa’ and ‘Maa Vatsalya’ cards under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Beneficiaries of the ‘Maa’ and ‘Maa Vatsalya’ card schemes receive free treatment worth up to ₹3 lakh for critical illnesses, whereas the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY scheme offers free treatment worth ₹5 lakh; the state government would bear the cost of any additional premium required to transition all these beneficiaries into the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Following the exposure of scams within the Ayushman scheme, questions are being raised as to whether an investigation has been conducted into why the highest number of cards were issued in Vadodara.
BJP MLA Rajendra Trivedi distributed approximately 4,400 ‘Maa’ cards through his fan club. Prior to this, the fan club had facilitated the issuance of around 6,000 ‘Maa’ cards as part of its welfare work for the poor. In the Raopura assembly constituency, ‘Maa’ cards were issued and distributed to approximately 10,400 eligible families.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme covers a population of over 50 crore people across 10 crore families nationwide. In Gujarat, 2.44 crore beneficiaries have been included under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. In Vadodara district, 2.96 lakh beneficiaries have been issued ‘Mother Cards’. The state government has spent ₹155 crore under the Mother Card scheme for the treatment of serious illnesses within the state.
State government orders cancellation of 61,000 fake Ayushman cards
Ahmedabad: January 10, 2020
The state government has ordered the cancellation of 61,000 fake Ayushman cards. Last month, the state health department uncovered a major scam in which fraudsters were attempting to create thousands of fake cards. They [were using] the card software……were exploiting a loophole.
Around 1,500 cards were issued to a single individual. The Ayushman Card, issued under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), provides medical treatment worth up to ₹7 lakh at government and registered private hospitals for families belonging to socially and economically backward sections.
Following a specific investigation, approximately 61,000 fake Ayushman cards were found to have been issued.
A senior Health Department official stated, “The investigation into the card scam has revealed that orders were placed for the issuance of a total of 61,000 fake Ayushman cards.”
Inquiries are underway at various private and government hospitals that utilize Ayushman cards. Details regarding these cards are being sought from various insurance companies.
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Ayushman Scam – Why were the highest number of cards issued in Vadodara?
On February 12, 2019, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel announced that a proposal had been submitted to the Government of India to include all existing beneficiaries of the state’s ‘Maa’ and ‘Maa Vatsalya’ card schemes under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Beneficiaries of the ‘Maa’ and ‘Maa Vatsalya’ schemes receive free treatment worth up to ₹3 lakh for critical illnesses, whereas the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY scheme offers free treatment worth ₹5 lakh. The state government committed to bearing the cost of any additional premiums required to bring all these beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Another scam involving Ayushman cards? A patient was admitted to the ICU despite there being no medical necessity—an incident linked to Anjana Hospital in Vadodara.
Following the exposure of the scam within the Ayushman scheme, questions are being raised as to why the highest number of cards were issued in Vadodara.
BJP MLA Rajendra Trivedi had distributed approximately 4,400 ‘Maa’ cards through his fan club. Prior to this, the fan club had worked for the underprivileged by facilitating the creation of around 6,000 ‘Maa’ cards. In the Raopura Assembly constituency, ‘Mother Cards’ were issued and distributed to approximately 10,400 eligible families.
Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, a population of over 50 crore people across 10 crore families has been covered nationwide. In Gujarat, 2.44 crore beneficiaries have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
In Vadodara district, 2.96 lakh beneficiaries have received ‘Mother Cards’. The state government has spent ₹155 crore on the treatment of critical illnesses.
Ayushman Scam 6 – What was the outcome of the investigation into 70 hospitals in Ahmedabad?
Before the Ayushman card scam came to light, an investigation into hospitals across the state had been ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that time, a probe into 70 hospitals in Ahmedabad was mandated. Free treatment benefits are being provided at 60 private hospitals in Ahmedabad city. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital—which was inaugurated yesterday—is among the hospitals in the city offering free treatment under the Ayushman scheme. Including this new facility, there are a total of 77 hospitals—comprising 17 government hospitals (such as V.S. Hospital, L.G. Hospital, Shardaben Hospital, and Civil Hospital) and 60 private hospitals.
More than 1,700 government and private hospitals in Gujarat have been included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Many leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, had urged the public to make the most of the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme—describing it as a boon and highly beneficial—and consequently, the number of beneficiaries is expected to rise in the near future. Hospitals included in the Ayushman Bharat Scheme are:
Akash Eye Care,
Alok Hospital,
ARNA Super Speciality Hospital,
Aastha Bavisi Eye Hospital,
Centre for Sight Ahmedabad,
Contact Care Hospital,
Devansh Eye Hospital,
Diva Eye Institute,
Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital,
Eye Care Hospital,
Fracture and Orthopaedics Hospital,
Gayatri Hospital and Research Centre,
GCS Medical College Hospital,
Health and Care Foundation,
Jaideep Hospital, Krishna Maternity Nursing Home,
Mavani Kidney Care Max Super Speciality Surgical Hospital,
Nice Child Care Hospital,
Ojas Hospital,
Palm Multispeciality Hospital,
PHC Pranjana Health Care,
Rajasthan Hospital,
Rudraksh Hospital,
Sardar Children’s Hospital and Neonatal Care,
Shalin Health Care,
Shantamani Multispeciality Hospital,
Shivam Medical Hospital,
Shreeji Eye Hospital,
Shrey Multi-facilities, Sindhu Hospital,
SMS Multispecialist Hospital,
Sushilaben Kothari Charitable Hospital,
Steven Eye Clinic,
Swayambhu Health Care,
Trisha Multispeciality Hospital,
Sahyog General Hospital and Nursing Home,
Karmdeep Orthopaedic and Skin Hospital,
Lifecare Institute of Medical Sciences and Research,
Neuro One Stomach and Critical Care Institute,
Shakti General Hospital,
Om Orthopaedic and Dental Hospital. These include Sifa Multispecialty Hospital,
Maruti Orthopedic Hospital and Joint Replacement Center,
Global Hospital,
Rudraksh Hospital,
Shivalik Multispecialty Hospital,
Kakadiya Hospital,
Wrestling Hospital,
Pushpa Children’s Hospital,
HCG Hospital,
SGVP Holistic Hospital,
Devashya Super Specialty and Multispecialty Hospital,
Ahmedabad Eye Laser Hospital,
Shalby Hospital-Naroda,
Aastha Orthopedic Hospital,
Kanba Hospital, Star Hospital,
Tej Eye Hospital, and
Shalby Hospital-Vijay Char Rasta.
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Ayushman Scam 5 – Services of Surat’s Kiran Hospital Cancelled
In September 2019, the services related to the “MA” card and the benefits of the Ayushman Pradhan Mantri Yojana were cancelled for Surat’s renowned Kiran Hospital.Charges were being levied on patients admitted under government health schemes, while funds were simultaneously being collected by submitting claims to both the central and state governments. The scam came to light after a complaint was lodged with the State Health Commissioner.
On October 8, 2019, a written order suspended Kiran Hospital in Katargam from the benefits of both the “MA” card scheme and the All India Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana; a notification regarding this was sent to the hospital’s management (Kiran Hospital Code Solution Pvt. Ltd.) and the CDCH (Chief District Medical Officer) in Surat.
The letter clearly indicates that irregularities within the Ayushman scheme have been uncovered. The Additional Director to the Health Commissioner issued the order to suspend billing and withhold all payments. Congress Councilor Aslam Cyclewala has raised questions about the matter and urged the Municipal Corporation—which had originally provided the land for the hospital at a token rate of one rupee—to take action. A major scam involving Kiran Hospital has thus been exposed.
As there are likely many such hospitals across Gujarat, an order has been issued to investigate all hospitals.
The government should have shut down the hospital, but it failed to do so.
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Ayushman Scam 4 – Fake Card Camp in Rajkot
A scam involving the issuance of Ayushman cards: ₹100 was charged instead of the prescribed ₹30, and ₹700 was collected from each individual for the card’s creation.
Following a message circulated within the Dasha Sorathia Vanik Samaj group regarding a camp at Rameshbhai Chhaya School in Rajkot,
people arrived to get their Ayushman cards made. At the time, ₹100 was being charged per form instead of ₹30, and ₹700 was being collected from each person for the card. The Health Chairman discovered that the government had not organized any such camp and that fake cards were being issued. During the subsequent raid, Shailesh Shah—the person responsible for making the cards—reacted angrily in front of the media.
The Health Chairman conducted the raid. It was revealed that a scam was being perpetrated by illegally charging ₹700 to individuals—including those who did not qualify for a BPL card and those not originally listed under the scheme. Consequently, project officers from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, working alongside the police, seized three laptops and cash.
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Ayushman Scam 3: Doctor from Bharuch caught red-handed in Rajkot
There are approximately 135 Ayushman card centers in the city.
On November 27, 2019, at a camp organized in the Sadar area of Rajkot city to issue Ayushman cards to the rural community, individuals were charged ₹700 instead of the prescribed ₹30.
The police registered a case against eight people and arrested six; the investigation revealed the involvement of a doctor from Bharuch and a woman. Raids were conducted in Bharuch. Dr. Keshav Kumar of the Bharuch Urban Health Center had been allotted an ID, but he misused it to facilitate the issuance of cards at other locations as well.
A search was underway for two others involved in the scam: Kishore Gandhi from Surat and Dilip Gandhi from Ahmedabad. Vijay alias Virendra Vipulbhai Madhani (Vanik, age 52)—resident of E-388, Ajmera, Shastrinagar, Nana Mava Road—and Dhirendrabhai Damodardas Gorsia (Vanik, age 62)—resident of Block No. 202, Janvi Apartments, Kamrej, Surat (and Bharat Smruti, Ramkrishnanagar-8)—along with their computer operator Bhavin Babubhai Vaghela (age 23, resident of C-27, Narayan Nagar-3, near Shakti Nath Circle, Bharuch), Wasim Jivasha Diwan (age 19, resident of Shahnaz Nagari, Ikhad Village, Bharuch), Shahimkhan Sharifkhan Pathan (age 19, resident of D-201, Mahfuz Complex, opposite Welfare Hospital, Jambusar Bypass Road, Bharuch), Kishore Gandhi (Surat), and Dilip Gandhi (Ahmedabad) were arrested under IPC Sections 409 and 34.
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26 Nov 2024 — Surat: 40,000 Ayushman cards were issued during a four-day campaign in Surat district… A decision has been made to issue Ayushman cards to citizens over the age of 70, regardless of their income limit. This will…
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60 Fake Ayushman Cards for a Single Person in Tharad
A man working at a private online business in Lakhani, in collusion with an employee of a hospital in Tharad, created Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards on the government website by using the ‘Ayushman Mitra’ BIS ID belonging to the hospital staffer. Dr. Hirjibhai Darghabhai Patel had lodged a complaint against the two youths at the Agthala Police Station on December 28, 2019. When Narendrabhai Nagjibhai Chaudhary (a resident of Thara, Taluka Tharad), who was working as an ‘Ayushman Mitra’, was questioned, he confessed that—in collusion with his friend Bharatkumar Senjibhai Kumarecha (a resident of Kumbhasan, Taluka Palanpur)—he had created a total of 60 ‘Ayushman Bharat’ dummy cards using the hospital’s BIS ID.
The fraudulent documents were created in the Lakhani area between January 25, 2019, and November 5, 2019. The police registered a case under IT laws and proceeded to arrest both individuals. An individual named Bharat Thakor was running an online service center in the Lakhani area, while Narendra Chaudhary was employed as an ‘Ayushman Mitra’ at Aastha Hospital in Tharad. Bharat Thakor generated an OTP on the Ayushman Bharat website using Aastha Hospital’s BIS credentials; based on this, a total of 60 dummy cards were created using the BIS ID.
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Ayushman Scam – 1: 1,700 cards seized from a single family
In Gujarat—the Prime Minister’s home state and the location of his dream project—1,700 Ayushman cards were issued to a single family.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi [launched a scheme to provide] free [healthcare] to approximately 500 million (50 crore) people in the country… The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched to provide medical treatment facilities. It was a major initiative by PM Modi. In one instance, a single family in Gujarat received 1,700 Ayushman cards.
More than two lakh fake ‘Golden Cards’ have been generated under this scheme. The fraud was detected by the National Health Authority’s (NHA) IT system, and the figures could rise further. Additional cases of making money through fake cards have surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand. Individuals ineligible for the scheme have also managed to obtain Ayushman cards. Praveen Gedam, Deputy CEO of the NHA, stated that complete data is being sought from the states; the situation will become clear once the data is received. Artificial Intelligence will also be utilized to detect such fraud.
Suspicions of fraud arose when private hospitals began submitting exorbitant medical bills to the government. Many of these bills were even paid. However, after the fraud was uncovered, the government recovered ₹4 crore in fines from these hospitals. More than 150 hospitals that submitted fake bills have been barred from the scheme. Over 1,350 bills from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were also found to be suspicious. At the ASG Hospital in Chhattisgarh, 109 cards were issued in the name of a single family, and 57 of them underwent eye surgery. In Punjab, 200 cards were found linked to just two families, while in Madhya Pradesh, 322 cards were traced to a single family.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in September 2018. To date, over 70 lakh people have received treatment under the scheme. The government has disbursed more than ₹4,500 crore to hospitals for these treatments.
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November 2024: Another scam involving Ayushman cards? A patient was admitted to the ICU despite not needing it—an incident involving Anjana Hospital in Vadodara.
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January 9, 2020
An Ayushman card scam has been detected in Rajkot. The administration is now taking steps to cancel 9,000 cards. It is suspected that 9,000 fake cards were issued in the district. A committee has been formed to file complaints against five operators, and the assistance of the cyber cell will be sought in this matter. The administration has initiated the process of cancelling these 9,000 cards; genuine beneficiaries will be issued new cards.
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Jan 05, 2020,
A scam involving the creation of duplicate Ayushman Golden Cards came to light at the Fatehgarh Health Center in Rapar Taluka, and a complaint has been filed at the Rapar police station against the employee responsible for this irregularity. The Government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana in September 2018. Under this scheme, poor families receive free medical treatment worth up to five lakh rupees through the Ayushman Golden Card; however, irregularities are now surfacing within this scheme as well. Ayushman Golden Cards are being issued to beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana at the Fatehgarh Primary Health Center in Rapar Taluka.
A multi-purpose health worker here was running a scam to create duplicate Golden Cards. Following a notice from the District Health Department, the in-charge Taluka Health Officer of Rapar lodged a police complaint against the health worker after the scam was detected at the Fatehgarh Health Center. Paul Sathan, the in-charge Taluka Health Officer of Rapar, filed a complaint at the Rapar police station stating that Ayushman Golden Cards for eligible beneficiaries under the government’s Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana were being prepared at the Fatehgarh Primary Health Center. This task was being handled by multi-purpose health worker Baldev Bharmal Solanki. He defrauded the government by misusing the Taluka Health Officer’s email ID to create duplicate Golden Cards.
This multi-purpose health worker, Baldev Solanki, used to create duplicate Ayushman cards for people for a fee of 50 rupees. The District Health Department ordered action in this matter; statements from other employees and the victim revealed that a health worker was issuing duplicate cards. Based on a complaint filed by the Taluka Health Officer, the police have registered a case against Baldev Bharmal Solanki for defrauding the government by creating duplicate Ayushman Golden Cards.
The process of issuing ‘Golden Cards’ to eligible beneficiaries under the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana is underway in almost all talukas of Kutch. While the Taluka Health Officer is responsible for local monitoring, the District Health Officer oversees the entire process. However, with the detection of a scam involving the issuance of duplicate Ayushman cards in Rapar, it is imperative for the District Health Officer and their team to inspect the work being carried out in other talukas as well.
Following the exposure of the scam at the Fatehgarh Health Center—where duplicate cards were being issued to people for ₹50—investigations in other talukas have become essential. It is crucial for the District Health Officer to take cognizance of this matter and conduct a thorough inquiry.
Taluka Health Officer Paul Sathan Hembrom stated that, in accordance with the District Health Department’s orders, an investigation was conducted, statements were recorded, and a formal complaint was filed. ASHA worker Kailashben Suthar informed three individuals about the card issuance process, as instructed by the nurse; she later claimed she was unaware of the total number of cards generated. Meanwhile, Devrajbhai Umat provided information to his family. The police confirmed that the four cards issued to these individuals have been recovered.
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Ayushman Card Scandal: Gujarat Government forced to make disclosures; public exchequer drained
Gujarat Scam: Government…The Ayushman scheme was implemented for the convenience of the public. However, hospitals in Gujarat are now engaging in major malpractice regarding it. Gujarat has topped the list of states involved in massive scams under the Ayushman scheme. Not just one or two, but 302 hospitals in Gujarat are involved in a scheme to siphon off money from the public exchequer; they have claimed payments by treating corpses even after the patients had died.
Sep 13, 2023,
The next 48 hours will be extremely difficult for Gujarat! Latest updates from the Meteorological Department regarding the onset of severe cold weather.
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Credibility of Ayushman cards tarnished: Gujarat government forced to reveal the depletion of public funds.
Gujarat Scam: Gujarat has become the number one state for major scams under the Ayushman scheme. Meanwhile, the state government is striving to ensure that citizens receive quality medical care under the “AB-PMJAY-Ma” scheme and that no irregularities affect the beneficiaries. The state’s anti-fraud unit inspected 832 hospitals during policy years 7 and 8. Following these inspections, 9 hospitals were suspended, 1 was de-paneled, and 1 was blacklisted, with fines totaling over ₹2 crore imposed.
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Under the “AB-PMJAY-MA” scheme, families meeting specific criteria are provided with free health coverage of ₹10 lakh for designated medical procedures. Each family member receives a personal “Ayushman Card” under this scheme. With its help, scheme beneficiaries can access free treatment—ranging from common ailments to serious conditions like organ transplants, cardiac care, and cancer—at private and government hospitals of their choice near their homes during times of need.
This will leave millions of Gujaratis breathless! Ambalal Patel’s major forecast regarding rainfall.
Currently, a total of 2,518 hospitals are empanelled under this scheme, comprising 1,711 government, 789 private, and 18 Government of India (GOI) facilities. Approximately 4,039 cases requiring pre-authorization are treated daily. To prevent any irregularities in the scheme’s implementation, a State Anti-Fraud Unit (SAFU) has been established; this unit continuously monitors the hospitals.
Beneficiaries seeking information or wishing to lodge a complaint regarding the scheme can contact the toll-free number 1800-233-1022. This number operates 24×7, receiving an estimated 900 to 1,000 calls daily. Additionally, the scheme’s call center makes over 3,000 calls daily to gather feedback from beneficiaries who have undergone treatment.
A major festive season gift from the government: 7.5 million (75 lakh) free LPG connections to be provided.
The government launched the Ayushman Yojana for the public’s convenience, but hospitals in Gujarat are now engaging in major malpractice. Gujarat has topped the country in terms of significant irregularities and scams within the Ayushman Yojana. Major fraud and scams have come to light; not just one or two, but 302 hospitals in Gujarat are involved in a scheme to siphon funds from the government treasury—even claiming payments for treating corpses after the patients had already died. A Gujarati entrepreneur is making money from cow and buffalo dung; Japan has shown interest and plans to invest ₹230 crore.
The government launched the PMJAY scheme (Ayushman Yojana) for patients from poor and middle-class families. Now, shocking revelations regarding this scheme have emerged. In Gujarat, there were 13,860 instances where patients already admitted to one hospital were simultaneously shown as admitted to another. Essentially, a patient would be undergoing heart treatment at one hospital while simultaneously appearing to receive kidney treatment at another. How is this possible? Yet, this is exactly what happened in Gujarat.
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A major scandal involving 302 hospitals in Gujarat has come to light through a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Gujarat tops the country with 13,860 cases involving “fake” patients out of a total of 21,514 cases. The 302 hospitals involved submitted false patient reports. The scam was exposed following a data analysis conducted in July 2020. The scale of the fraud was such that even deceased patients were shown as receiving treatment in hospitals. Payments were made for “new treatments” even after the patients had died; claims for treating 47 deceased individuals were filed in Gujarat.
Furthermore, records showed patient admissions exceeding bed capacity in several hospitals. Hospitals received substantial payments without submitting death summary reports or death audit reports. No reports were found for 1,547 deaths in Gujarat, yet hospitals were paid over ₹17.9 crore (1,790 lakh). Meanwhile, the government continues to praise the scheme.
Gujarat ranks first in the country for irregularities such as “one patient, two hospitals.”
302 hospitals in Gujarat are implicated in a money-laundering scheme.
Hospitals siphoned off money by claiming to treat corpses after the patients had died. Several instances of irregularities have come to light regarding the government’s popular PMJAY-Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides medical treatment to middle-class patients.A startling revelation from a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report indicates that in Gujarat, 13,860 patients—who were already admitted to one hospital—were simultaneously recorded as admitted to another. Such a scenario is physically impossible; for instance, how could a patient undergoing treatment for a heart condition simultaneously receive kidney treatment or surgery at a different hospital? How can the same individual’s body be present in two different hospitals at the same time? Gujarat leads the country in this regard, accounting for 13,860 such patients across 21,514 instances involving 302 hospitals. These figures clearly suggest that funds were siphoned off using the identity of a single patient across multiple locations.
Data analysis conducted in July 2020 revealed that the Ayushman Yojana system failed to prevent the admission of a patient to a second hospital while they were already hospitalized elsewhere. The National Health Authority acknowledged this flaw and explained that in cases where a baby is born in one hospital—with the mother also present there—but the newborn is transferred to another hospital for treatment, the mother’s PMJAY ID card is utilized. However, the CAG contested this argument, noting that these cases involved male patients as well, not just women. Significantly, instances of treatment being claimed for deceased patients under the Ayushman Yojana also surfaced in Gujarat, with payments made for “new” treatments after the patient had already died. In Gujarat, 51 claims were filed regarding the treatment of 47 deceased patients, resulting in payments exceeding ₹17.91 lakh to hospitals. It has been recommended that both the National Health Authority and the State Health Authority investigate all such cases to prevent erroneous payments and avoid confusion. Moreover, it has come to light that the number of patients admitted to hospitals exceeded their bed capacity; for instance, one hospital had a capacity of 55 beds but was found to have 240 patients admitted. Additionally, payments were made to hospitals without the submission of death summary reports or death audit reports. There were no reports available regarding 1,547 deaths in Gujarat.
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2019
Ayushman Card Scam in Surendranagar District: 432 Suspicious Cards Found
05/02/2020
Strict action against those who issued cards following verification
432 suspicious Ayushman cards have been identified in Surendranagar district. While 5.60 lakh members from 1.25 lakh families living below the poverty line in the district are set to be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the discovery of suspicious cards has raised various concerns. A list of these 432 suspicious cards has been provided to the district by state authorities. According to sources in the District Health Department, all these cards will be verified by the district’s DPEO, Avni Prajapati. Subsequently, legal action will be taken against the individuals responsible for issuing these fraudulent cards.
As of September 6, 2023, there were 51 hospitals in Gujarat where the number of admitted patients exceeded the bed capacity. For example, on March 6, 2021, Apollo CBCC Cancer Care (a unit of Amrish Oncology Services Pvt. Ltd.) had 55 beds but had admitted 240 patients. This information was revealed in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The report analyzed claims for patients other than those undergoing day-care procedures—such as chemotherapy and dialysis—and found that the number of patients in these hospitals exceeded the available bed capacity. There are 51 such hospitals in Gujarat. The National Health Authority responded by stating that data for government hospitals is updated from the back-end—a claim that is inaccurate. Private hospitals often fail to update the registration portal when their facilities are upgraded. The Health Authority also argued in its defense that patients undergoing dialysis, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy do not occupy hospital beds for the entire day. However, this response is unsatisfactory, as day-care cases—including dialysis—were not factored into the data analysis. Subsequently, the National Health Authority stated that bed-count data is not available on a real-time basis. The report also notes that discharge dates are missing in some instances. In Gujarat, 51 hospitals reported a total of 2,558 beds, yet the patient count stood at 5,265. It was also recently revealed that payments were made to hospitals for the treatment of patients who had already died. The scheme covers medical treatment costs of up to ₹5 lakh in both private and government hospitals. In Surendranagar district, 5.60 lakh members from 1.25 lakh registered families are set to benefit from the scheme. While 2.76 lakh people in the district have received Ayushman cards so far, the Health Department has launched an investigation following reports of fraudulent cards surfacing in other parts of the country.
1. According to the 2011 list, the Ayushman database contains entries where house numbers appear without corresponding names. Fraudulent Ayushman cards are created by assigning the names of individuals not on the original list to these vacant house numbers. 2. Fraudulent cards are also generated by adding the names of nephews or nieces to cards issued under the Ayushman scheme; subsequently, cards for other blood relatives are linked one by one to create further fake cards.
The government has established Common Service Centers (CSCs) to facilitate the issuance of Ayushman cards.Authorities have received complaints that fraudulent Ayushman cards are being issued at these Common Service Centers, even when the applicants’ names do not appear on the official list. Reports indicate that fees ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 are being charged for the issuance of these fake cards. Following complaints of such fraud elsewhere, an investigation was conducted into 22 suspicious cards issued using a single ID in Jhinjuwada; 16 of these were found to be fake and subsequently blocked. After it was revealed that the cards were generated using the ID of Jitkumar—a ‘Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra’ at the Jhinjuwada Primary Health Centre (PHC)—he personally lodged a complaint at the police station.
March 21, 2024
Surat district authorities took action against an agency operating in the Punagam area that was fabricating government documents. Fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, passports, ration cards, and various other government documents were being produced at a shop named ‘Bhagwati Consultancy,’ located in Bhagwati Krupa Society near Kiran Chowk, Punagam. Surat District Collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi had ordered the raid. A police case has been registered against the individual responsible for creating the forged documents, identified as Nikunj Dudhat.
Surat City Provincial Officer V.J. Bhandari stated that the shop in question, Bhagwati Consultancy (Shop No. 1), was under scrutiny following reports of widespread forgery of government documents. Staff, including the Punagam Mamlatdar, had initially conducted a private inquiry. During the investigation, Nikunj Bhavchandbhai Dudhat—an employee of Bhagwati Consultancy (residing at Kishana Park Society near Kubernagar, Simada Village; originally from Paniyadev Village, Dhari Taluka, Amreli District)—was questioned. It was revealed that under the guise of a public facilitation center, the shop was processing applications and documents for Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, passports, ration cards, marriage certificates, licenses, Ayushman cards, income certificates, non-reserved category certificates, EWS certificates, and various welfare schemes—such as the Widow Assistance Scheme, Kunvarbai nu Mameru Yojana, Vhali Dikri Yojana, and RTE scheme. During the investigation, 27 files and folders—including DGVCL electricity bills, Aadhaar cards, and blank birth certificate templates—were found on the computer. Nikunj Dudhat was creating all these forged government documents.
Furthermore, a forged Surat Municipal Corporation tax bill was discovered during the investigation (bearing the reference number 64Gh-17-2911-0-001 and registered in the name of Rahuliya Jaysukhbhai Bhikhubhai). Evidence from his computer and laptop revealed that duplicate certificates—complete with seals and unsigned specimen formats—were being created using Word files.
**Case Registered Under These Sections**
In this connection, Pune Mamlatdar Roshni Patel registered a case against Nikunj Dudhat under Sections 465, 466, and 468 of the IPC, and Sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the IT Act. He was accused of creating duplicate cards, proofs of identity, specimen documents, and bills using editable Word files, and of fabricating documents that appeared to be authorized or issued by government officials.
**He Also Created Duplicate Seals for Bogus Documents**
He also created duplicate government office seals for the bogus government documents prepared by Bhagwati Consultancy. To achieve this, he crafted counterfeit seals that closely resembled the genuine ones. Forged signatures were also utilized.
**FSL Team Summoned**
Following orders from Collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi, the investigation commenced at 8:00 PM on Wednesday and concluded at 4:00 PM the following day. Given the gravity of the matter, an FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) team was summoned during the night-long operation to examine the forged documents.
**Complaint Received by Collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi via Phone**
The complainant directly informed District Collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi via telephone that a government Aadhaar card kit was being used illegally in Sarthana and that forged government documents were being produced in Pune. Following the complaint, an investigation ordered by the District Collector revealed the scope of the issue across the Bhopal area.
**Administrative Officer’s operator used the Aadhaar card kit**
Last week, it was discovered in Sarthana that a private individual named Kirit Algia was illegally using a government-issued Aadhaar card kit. The investigation revealed that the kit had been issued using the ID and password of Mehul Patel, the Administrative Officer in charge of the municipality’s Education Committee. Patel’s operator had handed over—effectively selling—this government Aadhaar kit to Kirit Algia of Radhe Consultancy. The municipality is also investigating the matter.
**November 15, 2024**
**Administration downplaying the Ayushman Card scam in Mehsana**
Mehsana: The administration appears to be downplaying the Ayushman Card scam in Mehsana district. Amidst rumors that notices have been issued to 20 hospitals in the district for irregularities and exploiting government schemes, the district health administration has maintained a suspicious silence regarding the names of these hospitals.
Meanwhile, amidst the uproar over major scams involving medical treatment under government schemes, several questions are being raised as the administration seems content with merely issuing notices. According to officials, many hospitals are organizing medical camps without the administration’s permission.
Previously, irregularities involving treatments using Ayushman Cards had come to light, prompting the administration to issue notices to the concerned hospitals. In one instance at a hospital in Satlasana, a scam involving ₹15,000 under a government scheme was detected, where ₹75,000 had been charged in violation of the rules.
A case has also surfaced involving a prominent hospital in Visnagar, where a government scheme was exploited to discharge children after just seven days of treatment. In Mehsana district, [facilities] operating under the patronage of trusts or politicians…Amidst allegations of a major scam involving Ayushman card treatments in private hospitals, the administration has issued notices.
While there is talk of blacklisting, officials from the Mehsana Health Branch are hesitant to disclose the list of hospitals facing such action. When questioned about the hospitals involved in the scam, officials from the Mehsana District Health Branch remained silent. Furthermore, when the lengthy nature of the punitive process was cited as the reason for withholding names—raising concerns about political implications—the call was disconnected following instructions from senior district officials not to reveal the names.
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November 15, 2024
Mehsana
The administration appears to be downplaying the ongoing scam involving Ayushman cards in Mehsana district. Amidst rumors that notices have been issued to 20 hospitals in the district for alleged irregularities and exploitation of the government scheme, the district health administration is maintaining a suspicious silence regarding the names of these hospitals.
Meanwhile, the administration’s decision to merely issue notices has sparked questions amidst the uproar over the massive scam involving treatments under the government scheme. According to government sources in Mehsana district, several hospitals have been organizing medical camps without the administration’s authorization.
Irregularities regarding treatments using Ayushman cards had previously come to light, prompting the administration to issue notices to the hospitals involved. In one instance, a hospital in Satlasana committed a fraud of ₹15,000 under the government scheme while charging ₹75,000 in violation of the rules.
A case has also emerged involving a prominent hospital in Visnagar, where a child was discharged after just seven days of treatment, allegedly to exploit the government scheme. Amidst allegations of a major scam involving Ayushman card treatments at private hospitals in Mehsana district—hospitals often run under the patronage of trusts or political figures—the administration has issued notices.
While there is talk of blacklisting, officials from the Mehsana Health Branch are hesitant to release the list of hospitals facing such action. When asked about the hospitals involved in the scam, officials remained silent. Concerns regarding potential political repercussions—should the disciplinary process drag on or the names be withheld—were cited, and the call was disconnected following instructions from senior district officials not to disclose the names. ————-
Tharad 2018
Ayushman Card Scam Uncovered at Tharad Hospital
5 Years Ago
An investigation into data from the Gandhinagar Health Department’s online server revealed that 60 Ayushman cards had been issued in violation of regulations using the ID of Dr. Hirji Patel, a private practitioner in Tharad. Naresh Chaudhary, an ‘Ayushman Mitra’ (facilitator) at Tharad’s Aastha Hospital, colluded with his friend Bharat Kumarecha to download 60 cards from the PMJAY website. They generated the cards by obtaining OTPs on Naresh Chaudhary’s mobile phone, utilizing the ID of the private doctor mentioned earlier. The Tharad Health Department stated that the scam came to light when it was discovered that cards were issued for names beyond those listed in the original letters. The doctor’s contract under the Ayushman scheme has since been cancelled.
Hirjibhai Dargabhai Patel, a private medical practitioner in Tharad, was affiliated with the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and had been issued an Ayushman ID. This ID was intended to enable individuals who had received letters from Prime Minister Narendra Modi years earlier to obtain Ayushman cards based on those letters. Narendra Nagjibhai Chaudhary, an ‘Ayushman Mitra’ working at a private hospital in Tharad, generated 60 such Ayushman cards between January 25 and November 5. Since all the cards were generated online, the Gandhinagar Health Department grew suspicious and wrote to the Banaskantha Health Department, requesting an investigation into the matter. Subsequently, on November 5, Dr. Haresh Jaipal, the Tharad Taluka Health Officer, informed Dr. Heerji Patel of Aastha Hospital in Tharad that the Ayushman cards had turned out to be fake. The investigation revealed that a staff member, Narendra Chaudhary, had generated OTPs on the website of his friend, Bharatkumar Senjibhai Kumarecha (a resident of Kumbhasan, Palanpur Taluka), and created cards by adding extra names. Following the incident, the doctor recalled all 60 cards, and 20 days later, a case of cheating and fraud was registered at the Agathala Police Station against the staff member, Narendra Nagjibhai Chaudhary, and Bharat Senjibhai Kumarecha. However, the Tharad Health Department merely cancelled the Ayushman card agreement with Aastha Hospital and absolved itself of further responsibility.
The agreement was cancelled after the Ayushman card scam at the hospital came to light; 20 cards had been issued [fraudulently].
The scam was exposed after it was discovered that 10 to 15 names had been added to each card.
‘Ayushman Mitras’ are provided with IDs for data entry, granting them the authority to add eligible family members to the scheme when necessary. However, in Tharad, 10 to 15 names were added to each card, leading to the exposure of the entire scam. The Health Department has blocked 51 of the 60 cards.
Cards issued to 101,612 families in the district
According to the 2011 census, Ayushman Bharat letters were issued to 168,757 families in Banaskantha district; of these, 101,612 families have received their cards.
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Rajkot
January 9, 2020
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A scam involving Pradhan Mantri Ayushman cards has come to light in Rajkot district. The administration discovered that over 9,000 fake cards had been issued in the district, prompting an investigation. Twenty-one computer operators involved in the fraud—which entailed swindling genuine beneficiaries—have been suspended. It was revealed that more than 250 cards had been issued in the name of a single family in Gujarat, leading the government to order an inquiry.
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The committee has suspended the 21 operators and intends to file police complaints against those involved in the scam. Meanwhile, the District Health Department, with the assistance of the Cyber Cell, has initiated an investigation to determine the total number of cards issued and identify the HHIDs (Household IDs) used in the process.
The Rajkot District Health Officer stated that the central government provided a specific list of eligible recipients for the Ayushman Bharat card, and cards were intended to be issued only to those individuals. However, it was discovered that operators exploited software vulnerabilities to issue cards to people whose names did not appear on the list.
Operators were provided with HHIDs and instructed to issue cards only to family members listed in the database. Instead, they misused the software flaws to add unauthorized individuals to the IDs of families sharing similar surnames, thereby issuing illegal cards. Investigations revealed that over 9,000 such cards had been issued. Action has already been taken to cancel approximately 9,000 fake cards. Preparations are also underway to reissue cards to genuine beneficiaries.
Fake Ayushman Card Scam in Rajkot; 21 Operators Suspended
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Ayushman Card Scam: State Government Cancels 64,000 ‘Phantom’ Cards
January 21, 2020
Following the exposure of a state-wide scam involving the issuance of Ayushman cards to ineligible individuals using a single ID, the state government has cancelled 64,000 ‘phantom’ Ayushman cards with immediate effect.
Multiple Ayushman cards issued to beneficiaries based on a single ID
64,000 cards cancelled
Strict decision by the state government
The central government had recommended this action to the state government; following a decision made during a high-level meeting of the Health Department yesterday, 64,000 fake cards have been cancelled across the state.
21 Operators Dismissed
It is important to note that in Rajkot, Ayushman cards were issued to individuals who were not genuine beneficiaries, all based on a single ID. Following the exposure of this scam, 21 operators have been dismissed. The scam has been portrayed as the work of the operators alone—suggesting they were making entries and issuing cards at their own discretion—whereas, in reality, the operators were merely submitting applications.
The operators themselves were openly involved in this scam.
The responsibility for approving these applications lay with the doctors. An application is approved only after verifying the name, the beneficiary’s eligibility, and the documents; the card is issued only after this approval. If a document is pending or rejected, the card is not issued. Consequently, the investigation revealed the involvement of these specific operators. When the Ayushman card scam was detected in Rajkot, the administration took action to cancel 9,000 cards. A scam involving the issuance of duplicate cards under the Prime Minister’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana (Ayushman Card) has come to light in Rajkot district. The administration discovered that over 9,000 fake cards had been issued in the district. Consequently, a committee has been formed to investigate the matter. Additionally, 21 computer operators involved in the scam—which defrauded genuine beneficiaries—have been suspended, and further investigations are underway.
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Once again, an Ayushman Card scam has surfaced in Rajkot. After it was revealed that more than 250 cards had been issued in the name of a single family in Gujarat, the government ordered an inquiry. The investigation uncovered that over 9,000 fake Ayushman cards had been issued in Rajkot district alone. A committee headed by the Rajkot District Collector has been constituted to address this issue. The committee has suspended 21 operators and plans to file police complaints against those involved in the scam. Currently, however, the District Health Department is conducting an investigation with the assistance of the Cyber Cell. District Health Officer Dr. Mitesh Bhandari stated that an inquiry has been initiated to determine exactly how many cards were issued and whose HHID (Household ID) was utilized.
This beach in Gujarat has been declared the cleanest beach in the country.
How was this scam perpetrated?
The Rajkot District Health Officer explained that the central government had provided a specific list of eligible individuals for the Ayushman Bharat Card, and cards were intended to be issued only to those on that list. However, it was discovered that operators exploited software vulnerabilities to issue cards to individuals whose names did not appear on the list.Operators were provided with HHID (Household IDs) and instructed to issue cards only to families listed therein. However, it was discovered that operators were exploiting software vulnerabilities to illegally issue cards by adding unauthorized individuals to the IDs of families sharing similar surnames. Over 9,000 such cards were found to have been issued. Consequently, action has been taken to cancel approximately 9,000 fraudulent cards, and preparations are underway to reissue cards to genuine beneficiaries.
Three tents were destroyed by fire at the Rann Utsav; an NRI Patel family lost all their belongings in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Health Department has instructed hospitals to report any instances where a holder of a fake card arrives seeking medical treatment. It is worth noting that the Government of India launched this scheme to provide quality healthcare and financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh to poor families. However, it has come to light that scammers are exploiting the scheme for financial fraud. Notably, the ‘Zee 24-Hour’ team previously conducted a sting operation in Rajkot, leading to the arrest of scammers who were issuing Ayushman cards in exchange for money.
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September 11, 2023
Large-scale corruption has been uncovered in the PMJAY-Ayushman Maa scheme, which provides medical treatment to poor and middle-class patients in Gujarat. Gujarat accounts for the highest number of Ayushman Maa cards in the country—2.47 lakh—of which 1.36 lakh were found to be fraudulent. Additionally, the status of over 77,000 cards remains undecided. It has been determined that more than 19,000 cards are free of fraud, while cases involving over 8,200 cards are pending, and 6,690 cards are currently under investigation. The PMJAY system is designed to trigger an alert whenever a suspicious beneficiary is identified. The system immediately triggers an alert if there are issues such as mobile number discrepancies, a mismatch in the beneficiary’s facial recognition, the issuance of multiple cards to the same beneficiary within a single family, the inclusion of ineligible beneficiaries, ambiguous cases, or the use of a single document to generate multiple cards. Consequently, Gujarat tops the country in cases of suspected card fraud; trigger alerts were issued for over 7.65 lakh cases in the state. A special team was deployed to investigate these suspected beneficiaries. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has brought this matter to light. While the national rate of fraud involving suspected cards stands at 40.81 percent, Gujarat has recorded a fraud rate of 55 percent. These findings emerged following an investigation into the states. It has also been revealed that private hospitals in Gujarat are engaging in illegal billing practices—such as charging fees for treating a patient’s body after death and claiming payments by reporting patient numbers that exceed actual bed capacity. In a sense, this government scheme is becoming a hub of corruption. (Google translation from Gujarati; please refer to the original report)
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